Airflow and Driving Lights
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:20
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Member - Netnut (VIC)
Greetings to all members and visitors.
I have a 2006 Hilux DC SR5 4X4 fitted with a Toyota steel bullbar. I find the standard headlights to be just adequate. I'm concerned that if I fit
driving lights - either rectangular or round - I will restrict the airflow to the radiator. Is my concern justified?
If it be that I shouldn't be worried, I'd appreciate some recommendations for a driving/spot light combination suited to my vehicle and set up. I don't require the largest and most powerful lights available.
In anticipation of some helpful advice, thank you to all respondents.
Netnut
Reply By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:29
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:29
If your vehicles cooling system can't handle a couple of
driving lights there would have to be something amiss with it.
As you only want a couple of standard
driving lights, and not something that will fry eggs at 100 metres it should be fine.
AnswerID:
354494
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:35
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:35
Plenty of your model Hilux running around with Lightforce 240s (big suckers)........don't seem to have any issues.
If you don't require that much extra light, I would suggest a set of Lightforce 170s or the Roolite 180s (latter are relatively new and I have no idea of the longevity).
I have 2 Lightforce XGTs converted to 55 watt/5000k HID (on the bullbar) as well as 4 x 170 Lightforce Strikers on the roof. Great lights!!!
AnswerID:
354496
Reply By: Rossc0 - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:37
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:37
Can you leave your vehicle stationary at idle for 30 mins without over heating?
If you can then you should not have an issue with airflow to the radiator.
As an example my F100 holds at 87deg when left idling for 30mins and usually sits between 85 - 90deg on the road.
It is fitted with twin 14inch thermo fans which turn on at 87deg and off at 82deg.
The
driving lights cover a lot of the grill area.
Cheers
Ross
AnswerID:
354498
Reply By: JustT - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:48
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 10:48
I'm running the roo lite 180's - been on the car for about 12 months. No complaints.
I had Lightforce 240's on my previous car - and the roo lites aren't as good light output wise, but they were significantly cheaper, and I don't use them that often, so its a good compromise.
AnswerID:
354501
Reply By: Andrew-rodeo - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 22:34
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 22:34
Does your Hi-Lux have sealed beam or H4 globes? If its got sealed beam you can get conversion kits to fir H4 globes. If you already have H4 globes you can get higher wattage globes or something like the Phillips Crystal Vision. Might be a bit cheaper than fitting
driving lights and all the wiring that goes with them. More food for thourght.
Cheers Andrew.
AnswerID:
354616
Follow Up By: Member - Netnut (VIC) - Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:01
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 11:01
Hello Andrew,
Thanks for your response. I'm taking up your suggestion and I'll compare the two options ie:
driving lights and higher capacity globes.
Many thanks,
Netnut
FollowupID:
622804
Reply By: Rolly - Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:27
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:27
There was a thread recently which carried the sorry story of spending a small fortune on a consistently overheating Troopy (I think)
The problem was successfully resolved by ripping off the huge
driving lights and fitting smaller ones.
There was some question as to how much the massive roo-bar was contributing to the matter.
It's often not so much a matter of the airflow being obstructed as it being redirected or being broken up into turbulent patterns.
AnswerID:
354694
Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:47
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 at 12:47
You won't have a prob with the lux. Mine has
driving lights and it gets warm here in central Queensland, air on all the time never a prob.
Even with my old D4D that spent 98% of it's life in the dirt and bull dust with the rad and ac condensor choked to the point that the ac was inneffective never overheated on 40º days at 130kph
Cheers
Dave
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354699