Retrofitting FBH?
 

The first 7 years of my Rover ownership were spent in sunny Gloucestershire, and I got around 43mpg on average. However, a couple of years ago I retired and moved back to very non-sunny N Ireland, where it’s about 100 colder. I also seem to be making lots of shorter journeys.


So the engine doesn't often get a chance to warm up, and now I’m getting maybe 35mpg :eek:



Would an FBH improve things? I don’t know that much about them, but as far as I can see, they raise the coolant to normal operating temperature…


I do take it for an occasional motorway thrash to warm it up properly, but that's just to get condensation out of the exhaust etc.

i had one on all my diesel rovers.well it was the same one transfered over.anyway if you do lots of short trips ie less than three miles the fbh will just about get your car up to temp.providing your thermostat is ok.but it will result in increased maintenance to the fbh as i found it got bunged up with lots of short trips.resulting in the end after a few decokes in it needing a new burner.amounst other things.on longer runs ie about ten miles the heater was fine for a very long time and it got the car up to temp quicker.as for the fuel yes it helped a bit .but not as much as you would notice .and in the end a decided then a fbh and short runs where not worth the hassle.

I don’t think the FBH will come increase the fuel economy Roger.
It will raise the temperature to about 70 when stationary, but unless your stat is working correctly, this would soon drop when on the move.
Is the stat ok, ie getting to say 84-87 on a long drive?
I find it takes about 8-10 miles for mine to reach 87 and stay in that ballpark.


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Ah OK, cheers for that. I had to get Mark to fit a new stat shortly after I moved back, as it had packed in and was hovering around 50 – but yes, mine would take something like 7 or 8 to get up to temp I think.


OK, the FBH was just an idea – I don’t actually know that much about them so, in a way, it’s a relief to be able to discard that thought. My plan is to drive the Rover till it packs in big time (or I crash it, like the TF a couple of weeks ago :eek:) then fit a charging point at home and get a decent used Nissan leaf or something – as far as I can see, an electric motor would be perfect for lots of 5-20 mile round trips…

discard the thought of fitting one why? The FBH may take 3 or 4 miles to get the coolant up to temperature but I would suggest that is not the best way to use either the FBH or the car.


Start the FBH 10 minutes before you intend to drive off. When you then start the car the temperature gauge is already half way up, better for the engine, better for demisting, better for comfort.

They may need some looking after, mine has been on my saloon 6? years and once fitted has not been a problem.

macafee2

I agree totally, warming the engine before start up can only be of benefit.

Hhmmm. How difficult are they to source/fit?

Hi Roger, I imagine you are relatively familiar or aware of my commute route, which is Carrick to the Odyssey at the Titanic Quarter. By the time I get to Rush Park/M5 my car is at 78-80 degrees depending on summer or winter. Then a mile down the M5 I am up to the first opening of my inline stat at around 88/89.

On the way home, by the time I am coming off the M5 at Rushpark, I am at between 75- 82 degrees depending on the season and traffic/speed.

This is 5 days a week, and there are occasional trips to local shops, with little additional travel.

This after 4 years of experimenting is normal for my inline stat. I get between 33-36 mpg consistently, which depends on the ambient temperature more than anything else. It is a remapped auto.

I wonder if a petrol (probably a 1.8T) would suit you better for short runs? I dont think your economy would improve, but the cost of fuel might?

Hi Alan – yes, my unfortunate girlfriend works out past the Titanic building, and has a joyous experience getting as far as the M2 every evening. And she has to arrive at 07:30 to stand any chance of getting near work in the mornings at all…


Trouble is, I live in Carnmoney, and spend a lot of time driving down to the Abbey Centre, Whiteabbey, Ballyclare, really short distances like that. I’ve done a few to Larne/Whitehead/Lisburn over the last week or two, and it’s gone up to 38/39mpg now.



Think I’ve thrown too much money at this old bus over the last 9½ years to go replacing it with another one! Current musing is to hope I can hang it together for another – say – 5 years, then go electric…

Trikey,I am in full agreement,the FBH if used the way it should ie start it up 20 minutes before engine ( you can get a remote on E Bay for buttons to activate FBH from app 10 meters ) the FBH will only use a fraction of the fuel that your engine would use,with the remote you can turn the FBH on/off winter or summer to your needs,I know been doing it for years.