Electric Fan???
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 15
Yeah, if it were me, I would just replace the fan clutch. I have never had a mechanical engine-driven fan actually fail, though I did have a fan clutch not want to go to high speed drive once. But it did not overheat the engine, since the fan still turned. Fan clutch was reasonably priced, considering the alternatives.
I have had electric fans die on two different vehicles. One had the internal electric motor brushes wear down, then the brush springs popped out and blew the fuse, which I didn't know. Luckily, I caught it before the engine overheated bad.
The other one, a thin pancake-style electric motor, seized up, the Air Conditioning went overpressure due to the heat, and blew freon and refrigerant oil out the A/C compressor's safety port all over under the hood. I cleaned it all up, recharged A/C and oil, and the replacement motor was very expensive.
I like mechanical fans! Reliable, easy to fix if needed, no troubleshooting required!
I have had electric fans die on two different vehicles. One had the internal electric motor brushes wear down, then the brush springs popped out and blew the fuse, which I didn't know. Luckily, I caught it before the engine overheated bad.
The other one, a thin pancake-style electric motor, seized up, the Air Conditioning went overpressure due to the heat, and blew freon and refrigerant oil out the A/C compressor's safety port all over under the hood. I cleaned it all up, recharged A/C and oil, and the replacement motor was very expensive.
I like mechanical fans! Reliable, easy to fix if needed, no troubleshooting required!
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Electric fans;
It must be as large as the stock fan 'for total air movement' in cubic feet per minute.
They usually draw a large amount of current and require proper electrical equipment, control and wiring.
The total cost is far above the clutch replacement plus the reliability factor.
Cost it out first
Be sure you want to let it be done?
It's no more work to replace the clutch than installing a fan assembly if that is truely the reason being given.
Good luck.
It must be as large as the stock fan 'for total air movement' in cubic feet per minute.
They usually draw a large amount of current and require proper electrical equipment, control and wiring.
The total cost is far above the clutch replacement plus the reliability factor.
Cost it out first
Be sure you want to let it be done?
It's no more work to replace the clutch than installing a fan assembly if that is truely the reason being given.
Good luck.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
As one who has done it I say do it unless the truck isn't driven much. Mileage gains will be 1-2mpg so payout will take longer the less you drive. I'd also urge to do it right, which means dual 16" fans. I am not a fan of the Taurus retrofits.
New User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Which manufacturer did you use for the 16" fans, relays and any other parts?
New User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I found the Flex-A-lite kit for $530 - 610 depending on what outlet.
Perma-Cool Kit I believe was in the $700 range
BeCool doesn't seem to support a kit anylonger, at least that i have found so far.
So assuming the Flex-a-lite is the route I go, I know I won't get the 2-3 mpg they advertise, but is it reasonable to expect 1/2 -1 mpg difference?
I know driving style, terrain, and speed of travel will make much of the difference, but I put about 17,000 miles per year on it, and will have it for over 100,000 miles, so figure at 1 mpg difference it will pay for itself around 40,000 miles or so.
Thoughts?
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 7
I ran a Flex-a-lite on my van. In the real world, it resulted in about a .5 mpg increase. My primary reason for getting it was not to save fuel, but to move more air at low speeds. My fuel economy before and after was virtually unaffected.
In a cold climate or when you do a lot of highway mileage, the fan won't need to turn on, and in theory that could result in better results. But at the end of the day, there are so many other factors that affect fuel economy.
In a cold climate or when you do a lot of highway mileage, the fan won't need to turn on, and in theory that could result in better results. But at the end of the day, there are so many other factors that affect fuel economy.
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