(2003 F250 FX4 crew cab 6.0)

Do you suffer the heartbreak of overheating and thinking this truck just doesn't know how to cool itself? We were just starting to take a multi-week long 28 foot travel trailer pull from Texas into New Mexico and Colorado when 30 miles out there is a big rrriippp-POW then ECT shoots up to 230 degrees. So drop trailer and limp back to the mechanic where the fan clutch and fan were replaced. After that the truck worked great and cooled itself the way you would expect even with the heavy grades and towing.

So my theory is either the original fan/fan clutch was not aggressive enough at moving air and the design has changed or they can degrade significantly in performance. Sorry I do not have the ford part numbers that were installed. My older fan clutch would engage very noticeably at ECT of 218 whereas the current set seems to be at that noise level almost all the time.

The fan noise is now the predominant engine noise except at speed. Although more engine noise than I prefer the better cooling is worth it. So my suggestion is if you are experiencing ECT variance more than you would expect it could be your fan/fan clutch. The reason I list both is that both were replaced although the fan didn't appear to be much different than the previous one. The parts came from a ford dealership.

 

If you're hearing the fan all or even most of the time, something is not right. I rarely hear my fan, even when I'm pulling heavy in hot weather. And I don't have temperature problems. The fan behaviour you were hearing before the replacement should be the norm.

Are you monitoring oil and coolant temperatures with something better than the dash gauge? Like a Scangauge, Edge Insight or something similar? The dash gauge is pretty useless and oil temperature can trigger than fan as well.

 

I use an edge CTS to monitor temps and yes I would love to have a truck that cools itself adequately without making a lot of fan noise but I cannot tell if my new parts are defective or redesigned to be more aggressive.

I haven't found a way to view fan rpm through the edge.

 

Might need to push "Edge" on getting that gauge.

I watch the Fan speed with the Scangauge II. I can watch it walk it's way up and down. Last year when I was pulling my TT, I thought I noticed the fan speed going up quicker in tow/haul while pulling. Didn't get a good place to really verify what I thought I was seeing.

As far as hearing the fan all the time? I'm with "dchamberlain" on this.

 

I almost never hear mine as well. When I do, it actually freaks me out. lol