Electric fans - Diesel Forum

earnies2 · 05-15-2005, 10:53 PM

I installed my motor and i'm thinking about electric fans. our radiator core measures 30"wide x 23" tall i figure we can only fit a 14 and a 16 inch fan in the with there are so many fans on ebay its hard to make up my mind (help me deside) i can probally end up with 5000 cfm's with two fans, any idea what the stock fan has for CFMs I was thinking about mounting a 3d fan as a pusher in front of the ac condenser wich will only work with the ac? the other 2 behind the rad will be pulling I also have a 9" fan on my trany cooler.I was thinking of using a ajustible thermostat with a manual override switch. I read the posts and it looks like only one person did this i cant imagine runnin without a fan? but i sometimes pull a hvy equiptment trailer, and my camper and boat. any help would be great I hope to get smoke out of my stacks this week! work is killing me with over time i worked 86 hrs last week>>>>> [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

ytee · 05-16-2005, 01:19 PM

I think I remember reading where our stock fans pull around 5800 or 5900 cfm.

Chris

nanuk · 05-16-2005, 05:16 PM

I have all the stuff (except the fan) to put one out of a Taurus in mine. The ones with the 3.8 litre engine have three wires going to them, and have two speeds. Will use the low setting on a thermostat (via a 30 amp relay) and the high to a switch (via a 100 amp relay).
I have known a lot of people to use them after having Black Magic and various other fans, and they all say they are the best.
I have found tons of them around here, I just need to go get one or two.
Lincoln Mark VIII's also had a similar one. (Some say it is the same, others say it is better.)
A lot of my 4x4/rockcrawling friends use them. Also putting one in my V-8 Landcruiser.
I will be towing out to Colorado in a couple days and will have it done prior to that. I will post results temps, etc when I get back.
My main reason for switching is that my fan clutch is on all the time, and it sucks the mpg, hp, and sounds like I am taxiing for takeoff.
And I can do this for less than half what the fan clutch costs.

JOAT · 05-16-2005, 11:47 PM

I just got a 3.8 Taurus/Lincol fan, but not installed yet. Bench tested it at both speeds and it seems to move alot of air, as I was told. Just need some time to get it installed.

crumm · 05-16-2005, 11:58 PM

The_Alaskan has twin electric fans. You might send him a pm..

Tom S · 05-17-2005, 12:27 AM

I dunno. I have a Taurus with a 3.8 V-6 and on a really hot day with the AC on under the right conditions the temp can creep up. I really wonder if an electric fan has enought stuff to suck out heat on a hot day at full load esp at higher altitude where the air is less dense from a motor double in size. I do have the EVTM book for that vehicle if you need help with figuring out the two speeds. I wish there was a workable electric clutch setup.

Tom

BadTrukRisin · 05-17-2005, 10:36 AM

Tom, just remember that our trucksrun a lot cooler than gassers in the first place and ours don't load up as much as a 3.8L would with a pull on and the ac on even at high altitude. I suppose that the only way to find out would be to try it. It probably wouldn't cost much for a used fan setup as there were a lot of those cars around. I am from Durango originally and still try and make an Elk hunt now and then. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]
Bud

JOAT · 05-17-2005, 01:56 PM

You can always keep the stock fan with you till you are sure you won't need it. Just make sure the electric fans are installed such that they are easy to remove. The original fan goes back on easy enough.

Tarheelstroker · 05-17-2005, 03:46 PM

we have about 8 months of sub 80 temps up here, guess I could just take my stock fan off around sept and put it back on in May! (bet it would make those cold start ups quicker too!)

Tom S · 05-17-2005, 09:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
just remember that our trucksrun a lot cooler than gassers in the first place and ours don't load up as much as a 3.8L would with a pull on and the ac on even at high altitude.

[/ QUOTE ]

I both agree and disagree with this. I agree that the diesel runs cooler at low power levels. I do not think that is the case at high power levels. I believe there is a reason for that large fan and large rediator and it is to disapate large amounts of heat when needed. I think you could get by with a electric fan under many conditions but not when it is needed most. I think an electric fan may work OK in cool/cold weather without heavy loads on steep grades at lower speeds. Don't forget that the fan has to run anytime the AC compressor is running if you decide to experiment. I have locked up the compressor on a Taurus at idle and it slipped the belt because the fan was accidentally not plugged in and the pressure got too high.

Tom

JoshR · 05-17-2005, 10:21 PM

Wait a sec - tell me more about the effect on the A/C of running w/o a fan, or vice versa. I removed my fan 10 days ago or so, and the only time the guage went above center was 83* out and I was running 75mph on the highway; it went to the 'A' in 'normal'. Other posts have mentioned making it to 'A', but no further, and so far my observations agree. It does make a HUGE difference in sound (much, much quieter), seat-of-the-pants tells me there is a significant difference in acceleration and I seem to need less pedal to get up and go. Darned near to the difference the 10k made from original. I have the fan and wrench in the bed toolbox if needed, but I sure like it without it. I'm hoping the consensus is that electric fans do fine.

Josh R

JOAT · 05-17-2005, 11:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think an electric fan may work OK in cool/cold weather without heavy loads on steep grades at lower speeds. Don't forget that the fan has to run anytime the AC compressor is running if you decide to experiment. I have locked up the compressor on a Taurus at idle and it slipped the belt because the fan was accidentally not plugged in and the pressure got too high.

[/ QUOTE ]

I somewhat agree, tested to almost 90 degrees to date. My experience so far is that at higher speeds (above 35mph) the air flow is adequate without a fan. At low speeds, no load and no AC, no problem. You definitely need the fan at low speeds with AC, or else turn the AC off. Also at low speeds under load with an Automatic, as both the AC and the tranny cooler generate alot of heat. I'd say the factory fan is way overkill for the way 95% of us use these trucks. DZLJIM and others seem to have no problems with the electric fans. But if you need to pull 10k at 15mph up a 6% grade with the AC on in 100 degree heat, then you may want to keep that stock fan on, or at least have it handy for a quick roadside install...
Fortunately these engines cool down if you pull off in park and idle awhile.

Tom S · 05-17-2005, 11:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I have locked up the compressor on a Taurus at idle and it slipped the belt because the fan was accidentally not plugged in and the pressure got too high.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can only tell you that it happened. I don't know exactly why if worked that way. I bet at a minimum the AC perfomance would be very degraded with out some airflow across the compressor.

Tom

JOAT · 05-17-2005, 11:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have locked up the compressor on a Taurus at idle and it slipped the belt because the fan was accidentally not plugged in and the pressure got too high.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can only tell you that it happened. I don't know exactly why if worked that way. I bet at a minimum the AC perfomance would be very degraded with out some airflow across the compressor.

Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

Try ZERO cooling, and the engine temp climbing, no fan (my experience every time I forget to turn it off in stop-n-go)

You may have had a bad high pressure cutoff switch in the Taurus, or maybe low compressor oil, triggering the siezed compressor at high temp.

Tom S · 05-17-2005, 11:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Try ZERO cooling, and the engine temp climbing, no fan (my experience every time I forget to turn it off in stop-n-go)

You may have had a bad high pressure cutoff switch in the Taurus, or maybe low compressor oil, triggering the siezed compressor at high temp.

[/ QUOTE ]

The bad high pressure switch is a good idea. The AC still works just fine in that car several years later though. The compressor seized at idle in the shade in room temp air. I will be looking forward to hearing how this works out. I would really like to hear how it works in a high temp and load situation. Sounds like a good idea for many conditions.

Tom