Noticed a few vehicles parked having open bonnets, leaving them open all night. Nissan Patrol seems to be one vehicle I have noticed. I take it that this allows the motor to cool more rapidly, although I have never done this. Is this practice recommended?
The first thing I do when connecting the solar panels to the aux batter (in the back) is lift the bonnet to drop the breaker between the VSR and the battery. I'd rather not wreck the crank battery by overcharging. I leave the bonnet up so I won't forget to reset the breaker when we're ready to go again. If I don't reset the breaker there's no power to the Anderson plug for the camper and hence the camper batteries won't be charged while we're driving. Once bitten twice shy.
Might be to stop batteries batteries from getting too hot since most don't like heat. After driving all that heat would be trapped and affect batteries whereas whilst driving presumably air flow would keep them at a lower temp.
Noticed a few vehicles parked having open bonnets, leaving them open all night. Nissan Patrol seems to be one vehicle I have noticed. I take it that this allows the motor to cool more rapidly, although I have never done this. Is this practice recommended?
Hi, my younger sister lives on a large rural property out west a bit near a healthy National Park, the small bush mice/rats are plentiful and mice has caused a few problems with wiring under the bonnet and chewed fluid hoses allowing coolant to drip out on their vehicles unnoticed. Not a cheap fix most times.
We were warned somewhere else to release our bonnet catches and allow the light to shine in to discourage the mice, not remembering where at the moment possibly lower NSW by the caravan park attendant. It is a problem at times.
If it is hot weather we open everything to cool the car off quicker for the night as we mostly sleep in the car. The heat from the exhaust worked its way into the car, now I have added insulation it is not really necessary.
Insulation in the ceiling has made a big difference as well stopping heat from the metal roof.
Not getting much heat from the firewall anymore either.
Might be to stop batteries batteries from getting too hot since most don't like heat. After driving all that heat would be trapped and affect batteries whereas whilst driving presumably air flow would keep them at a lower temp.
Excessive heat shortens battery life. The battery should be isolated from the engine bay. The battery in my car gets a lot of air circulating around it, but not from the engine bay. I have also added insulation with reflective aluminium.
Another vote for rats and mice. Everyone does it around the Atherton tablelands, especially camped around Lake Tinnaroo. At one camp there were 3 vehicles had to be towed due to wiring damage. Mothballs on top of the tyres is supposed to help deter them too.
One thing that I don't see happening too much these days:
When you stop a turbo driven vehicle when towing, and particularly if you have been
"singing along as against backing and filling to park, don't just pull up and turn the
engine off.
Residual heat in the turbo can escalate very quickly when coolant isn't circulating
thru the turbo and seals and the like will harden and leak, sometimes it can be
so violent that blades can even buckle, and so-on.
When you stop, run the engine with no load at a fast idle for a couple of minutes
and then shut off. You will have nice clean oil in the turbo for start-up and the
turbo will be cooled from the astronomical heat that these things run at.
In NZ they do it due to birds setting up nests on top of exhaust manifold . Causing fire . I guess magpies are up to same tricks here. ? They dont nest where theres light, open .
I pretty much always drop speed to 80 about 5 k from my destination. This allows my trusty diesel to cool sufficiently after a good drive. Just something an old mate told me years ago. But I too would leave it up for the rats and mice.
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I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
I am one that lifts the bonnet when stopped to camp/rest etc. I also let the engine idle for a couple of minutes if the vehicle has been working fairly hard eg. Towing.
Reasons for bonnet lift.
1. Let the heat out of the engine bay.
2. Reduces heat on the battery .
3. Leave the bonnet open slightly over night to keep rodents at bay . (they like a warm bedroom)
4. For conversation as someone will come up to see if you have a problem.
5. To check oils and water when engine cools.
6. Because I can.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
