Electric Fan

[sasquatch-hunter]

Anyone here has electric fan? I am thinking to convert the clutch fan to electric fan. Better cooling power for towing.

[Luna-Sea]

There was a bunch of different ones at princess auto last I was there.
Lordco has em too,slicker and low profile and pricy.
I guess you put a thermo-swicth inline somewhere,with an "always on"
switch for when you hit the hills.

Right on!

[shaun]

I've done that.Got everything at Mopac.Flexalite fan & adjustable thermoswitch.The switch sensor goes in between the rad fins,close to the top tank inlet.Bought relays at Princess Auto.Ended up hooking up the A/C fan in front of the rad as well,so I have a pusher & puller fan system.

[delicat]

Search the UK site, they have pictures of an install. It's not a bad idea although this clutch system on the Delica usually works good.

[jfpdelica]

The clutch system works fine David. The problem that I'm having is with the loss of horsepower when the clutch fan comes on. I will be looking for that link in the UK site. 8) Jeff

[jessef]

You shouldn't have any loss of HP when the fan kicks in.

I've done the electric fan swap in my Pajero with a 2.5 like the L300.

Used a Ford Taurus 3.2 slim elec fan. In it's stock form it has three settings. Off / normal / super high power

$20 at wrecker
$15 for switch/wiring

[deLOOKA]

^
Newbie question.

So are you manually turning on the fan? If so, are you watching the temp gauge to determine?

[jessef]

I left it on norm setting as the draw was so low that it didn't affect anything.

[delicat]

DeLOOKA,

The common way to wire it to put a thermo-switch so it operates within a certain margin. And usually you can also turn it on manually (for long climb...)

Jfarsang, as far as I know the current clutch set up does rob HP ... That's one of the benefits of the electric fan over the clutch system.

[RaddCruisers]

Just a few notes from my side of the fence (as a repair shop owner and 4x4 guy):

A properly working cooling system does not need an electric fan replacing the engine driven unit.
- the fan clutch must be working properly for the fan to drive and cool the rad properly
-the radiator must not be plugged up since the clutch fan thermostat needs the hot air moving over the rad to engage
-plugged radiators and JDMs are go together like raw fish and rice

An electric fan will not solve plugged radiator problems... if you're having cooling system problems -after- your cooling system has been properly repaired/serviced/replaced then there are other issues that need to be addressed. Perhaps watching your EGTs would help.

Nothing is free, and an electric will rob more power than an engine driven clutch fan.

Electrics are FAR less efficient than engine driven fans - they simply cannot move anywhere near the same amount of air as an engine driven unit will.

If you want some additional cooling (which is ultimately limited by the radiator and air flow), then put in a solenoid to run the AC condenser fan on either a thermostatic switch or a manual switch.

~John

[deLOOKA]

if you're having cooling system problems -after- your cooling system has been properly repaired/serviced/replaced then there are other issues that need to be addressed. Perhaps watching your EGTs would help.

by this you mean over heating problems?
didn't think there was anything else that could affect the cooloing system besides rad/w.pump/fan/thermostat/hoses

[sasquatch-hunter]

The reason that I was suggesting e-fan conversion is that I was towing my travel trailer up Osoyoos switch backs in 51 degree heat. May be all I need is a second cooling system!

[jessef]

Electrics are FAR less efficient than engine driven fans - they simply cannot move anywhere near the same amount of air as an engine driven unit will.

I disagree.

The stock clutch fan on my 2.5 was like comparing a little 2AA battery fan and the Taurus electric fan being an industrial blower.

When I went into a few water crossings, I'm able to turn it off completely so it won't soak the engine compartment, get water in everywhere and if by any chance I end up getting stuck in the water with the engine running I'll have less danger to hydrolock it although you'd have to really bury the thing in water with the engine running in my opinion before this was an issue since the intake is away from the fan.

I prefer the electric. You're driving anyways, so the battery/alt is powering/charging it. It's lighter and the obvious is that there are no mechanical parts. Less drag/belts, etc...

Advantages and disadvantages I guess.

I'm putting on on my L400 as well.

[Todd64]

I agree that the electric fans move more air. I think it's because of the fan design. More blades with a ring to concentrate the air flow. I had one off my '84 Fuego Turbo. It came off the IC and man it almost hovered when I turned it on while on the garage floor.

[jfpdelica]

Let me get this straight. I'm going to turn on the AC, along with the mech. fan (which I have no control over), alternator (when it is required). And you think that all of that isn't a lot to run? I would rather have the alternator running only, to limit the amount of drag on the engine. Now, I don't have a overheating problem, just a lack of power to operate all of the things that were suggested to keep my vehicle in its operating temperature. Cheers