Hey all, I have an 89 F-250 351W and at highways speeds the clutch fan engages causing a "roaring" noise which I know is normal. My truck never overheats or anything leaving me to believe all is working correctly. My question is this, if I switch to an electric fan will it cool effectivly enough and does that "roaring" cause my engine to use more fuel? One of my old Medic Units was the same age, and make and the roaring drove/drives me crazy. If if's using more fuel while engaged it gives me a reason to change it. I'm kind of a don't fix what isn't broken kind of guy and want to make it worth while to change it. I know they say it will improve MPG but didn't know if anyone did it and really noticed a difference worth anything.

 

Bump!!!!!!

 

"My question is this, if I switch to an electric fan will it cool effectivly enough and does that "roaring" cause my engine to use more fuel?"


yes.if you use good oem ford e-fans from cars that used the 3.8l engines along with a good controller.

yes.when the mechanical fan engages, it's power is coming from the engine.
electric fans,once on,generate some of their own electricity and are much more efficient than a simple mechanical fan.
many people will try and claim it's just a trade off.the same amount of power to get the air is still coming from the engine,just as draw from the alternator.it's not as cut and dry as that.if it were,e-fans would instantly snap and burn up belts.they are no where near the energy hogs of a mechanical fan.those max CFM ratings on mechanical fans,are way up higher in the rpm band than any fool normally drives and hardly count for anything either.so don't that discourage you.
take it one step further and increase efficiency even more by buying a variable rate fan controller.this will spin the fan/draw only enough power as needed,rather than just on/off.


also,
it's likely something is wrong with your cooling system.unless you were towing?
the fan shouldn't be required at hwy speeds.

 

I have the t-bird fan in my truck and at highway speeds it doesn't even turn on. It only comes on when putz ing around town . I font regret it at all. No more drag on the motor when the clutch Dan would kick in.

If your fan Is on at hwy speeds then I think there's something wrong with the clutch...

 

JD, I just finished up my electric fan install and here in the Las Vegas area and we are going thru our first group of 100* plus daytime temp's and my fans are working perfectly.
My choice of fans was factory fans from a 98 Windstar van. I did an album here on FTE with some pictures. I have a bad habit of overbuilding things. I have the 1990 version of your truck so everything should be the same.
The only thing I did before the fan install was upgrading to a "3G" 130 amp alt. ... trust me on this it's a great and needed improvement. Let me know if I can help in any way!!! Dave
Check out this link... lots of info !!!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...cs-inside.html