Electric Fans on 7.3 diesels - Diesel Forum

juniorb · 01-16-2007, 03:06 PM

I'm considering putting electric fans on my 7.3 and wondering if anyone else has done this already.
What problems I might encounter, etc.
Since it was -15 this morning I figure this might help on warm up.
Thanks

GenLightening · 01-16-2007, 03:37 PM

I'll be using electrics on my conversion. I got two of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/14-INCH-S...emZ110077485360

They're rated at 2400cfm each so I think they should do the job. I may only have one set up with a thermostat and the other on a manual switch. Depends on how cool/hot it runs.

luckys420 · 01-16-2007, 04:11 PM

would it help on warm ups? I thought the water in the radiator was not flowing when the thermostat is cold...I guess air blowing over the block is not good for warm ups (sorry, thinking out loud)

would it help with horsepower?

Mr_Roboto · 01-16-2007, 04:20 PM

I'm going to install an electric fan this spring.

I had my fan clutch go out in the middle of last summer so I took off the fan, it only got really hot if the truck wasn't moving. I got a good used fan clutch, but removed it again for winter. Again, I only get hot if the truck is sitting still, and still I can leave it idle for at least 10 minutes with the heater running and it's OK.

I'm now pretty convinced that at least for the way my truck is used, the mechanical fan is un-necessary and an electric fan makes more sense since I only need it when the truck isn't moving.

OkieGringo · 01-16-2007, 06:15 PM

I had a 19" electric fan on mine. Cost me $125 and it didn't help. Then I broke down and bought a new fan clutch and new 5-row core for rad. No more over heating. For "faster warm-up" in winter... now this one is gonna cost you some REAL dinero...cut a piece of cardboard to fit in front of rad, slip it in front of rad, stick a piece of wire thru top of cardboard and loop it around the rad cap. Use duct tape where wire goes thru cardboard to prevent it from tearing out. Works GREAT, cab heater throws out heat in a few blocks. Remember the K.I.S.S. principle? Trust me, the electric fans WILL NOT cool the engine enough. Now, those new super cooler double units for the Chebbie diesel might work, but I believe they are around $600 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]. OkieGringo

Greenie · 01-16-2007, 06:30 PM

Probably the only advantage for an electric fan is to cool the automatic transmission during low speed backing. Otherwise the engine driven fan moves more air than any electric fan could.

Mr_Roboto · 01-16-2007, 07:11 PM

No, an electric fan won't help if you are overheating. Nothing will move MORE air than the stock fan. Since the original poster is trying to get a faster warmup, it appears he just wants the stock fan gone since it moves air over the cold motor until the clutch gets warm enough to unlock.

Like I said, I ran in the dead of summer with NO fan and didn't get hot unless I wasn't moving. This included when I was towing cars. So it would appear that on a properly operating system, with light loads, the stock fan is not needed. This would likely not be true if you are loaded to 20K or something like that. My normal loads run from 9500# to 14K.

Junior - unless you are going to be stuck in stop and go traffic or have to idle for long periods, just take your fan off for the winter. If it turns out to not work for YOUR truck, it only takes a few minutes to put the fan back on.

My fan is staying off permanently. When my old fan clutch went bad, it cost me hundreds of dollars in broken injector lines (broken from increased vibration).

navistar45 · 01-16-2007, 07:44 PM

dont know if this helps any,but i have a u.s gear cyclone fan on my 02 ford,manual tranny. this fan has 3 settings,fully on[fan turn whatever speed the engine turns] half on,in this setting the fan will engage at short stops,such as drivethroughs or red lights.at which time it turns like a conventional fan clutch[modest speed].lastly is the off position,the fan basicly free wheels and only engages when the engine temp climbs to around 200/205 or so.i leave it in this position nearly all the time. the only time it engages is when it is loaded heavy,the temps in the 90's,and i'am running the snot out of it.it will idle for a long time[a/c off]in hot wether,before engageing aswell....

agnem · 01-17-2007, 04:09 PM

I'd love to see somebody try the $600 fan. That's the only one that seems to hold any promise of being sufficient.

navistar45 · 01-17-2007, 06:15 PM

memory serves me,the fan was about 550.00 shipped.it's my only mod other than straight exhaust. i'am very pleased with it,not sure if they offer it for earlier 7.3 trucks or not. the replacement fan that comes with the unit,is almost identical to the stock fan.it basicly acts the same as the fan setups on big trucks,only not air powered.

GenLightening · 01-17-2007, 07:27 PM

Any idea how much cfm the stock fan pulls? Mine are rated at 2400cfm each. On the cars I've setup, these pull quite a bit more.

Discbrks · 01-17-2007, 09:24 PM

I've been following the PSD guys talk about electric fans. The general theory is that a stock fan pulls 5000 cfm. Go to the PSD threads & read the electric fan discussions... maybe some helpful info.

agnem · 01-18-2007, 09:29 AM

[ QUOTE ]
memory serves me,the fan was about 550.00 shipped.it's my only mod other than straight exhaust. i'am very pleased with it,not sure if they offer it for earlier 7.3 trucks or not. the replacement fan that comes with the unit,is almost identical to the stock fan.it basicly acts the same as the fan setups on big trucks,only not air powered.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you're saying you have one? Pics! Also, do you tow (what) and where do you live (for geographic assesment)? How long has it been on? Sorry for all the questions, but inquiring minds want to know. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]