electric fans
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 71
From: Calhoun GA
There is less drag on the engine and less strain on the water pump because there is no fan and clutch. I use a dual puller (FAL 295) with an adjustable temp contoller and it works great, even in the summer heat.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 725
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I'm running dual 14" Derali fans with hayden temperature controllers on my truck and this has been one of my favorite mods. The install took about 4 hours freezing my butt off lol but it was worth it, the engine seems to rev easier so there definately was some gain. During the winter the fans rarely come on at all and in the summer they do a great job of keeping my engine cool even pulling heavy loads. E-fans are a worthwhile mod 
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
They are great. A noticeable difference in fuel mileage and a little extra power. No problems with overheating (except when the fuse holder melted) and as another benefit the truck now warms up faster in the cold weather. I too have the custom fit dual fan temp controlled.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
The aftermarket or "shade tree" wiring and added complexity (more things to fail) are the main downside. The OEM electric fans have much better wiring than the cheapo junk that comes with aftermarket fans.
Whether you gain efficiency and fuel mileage will depend on how well they are controlled since the conversion of mechanical motion to electrical and back again is inefficient.
If the mounting method is solid with bolts or screws into metal and solid mounting hardware they are OK. All too often they have very flimsy mounting hardware and sometimes even straps thru the radiator core itself, -a giant F- ! They usually won't last as long as the OEM setup either.
You do get a "seat of the pants" gain because their power demand is spread out. Not nearly as much as the dyno figures suggest because the dyno run is over a very short period of time.
Make sure your alternator will carry the additional load. Newer "small frame" alternators will not produce their rated amperage continuously. They won't even charge a dead battery... -What a joke!
Whether you gain efficiency and fuel mileage will depend on how well they are controlled since the conversion of mechanical motion to electrical and back again is inefficient.
If the mounting method is solid with bolts or screws into metal and solid mounting hardware they are OK. All too often they have very flimsy mounting hardware and sometimes even straps thru the radiator core itself, -a giant F- ! They usually won't last as long as the OEM setup either.
You do get a "seat of the pants" gain because their power demand is spread out. Not nearly as much as the dyno figures suggest because the dyno run is over a very short period of time.
Make sure your alternator will carry the additional load. Newer "small frame" alternators will not produce their rated amperage continuously. They won't even charge a dead battery... -What a joke!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Troy, MI
yeah i agree, anyone know what truck i can get oem electric fans from that will work on my 85 f250?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, NC
I used a 2000-2003 Ford Windstar fan in my 2000 F150. I like it alot because it is a factory style shrouded fan, 15-inch two speed with a 13-inch secondary fan. Blinded the shroud inside to seperate the two fans, mounted it with angle by bolting it to the top and bottom of the radiator. Used a Hayden controller for the 15 and a Flexalite wet probe for the 13, have the AC wired to cut on the 15 if it is off are it will kick it into high speed if it is already running. This fan kicks butt air wise, I rarely see the 13-inch ever come on, they are set to turn on at 95c 15" and 98c 13". I have less than 250 in the whole set up. Really helped the bottom in performance in my truck, very noticable. As a side note I used a Hayden 40/50 amp controller for the 15-inch fan because these are high amp fans.
Last edited by bratman2; Jan 18, 2005 at 12:44 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: in a house
definitly a great mod, but like Torque1st said their are downsides. one to look out for that I had to learn for myself recently is the plastic hold downs. they go through the core with the little pads and are JUNK. 3 out of the 4 eventually rubbed its way into the rows. it took 8 yrs but only 44K miles. I made mounting brackets this time.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
As I said before I have the e-fans and really like them. I do not recommend the universal mount though because they will rub through the fins. Mine are the Flex-A-Lite dual fan kit and are made for the truck. They use mounting brackets that fit right where the fan shroud mounted. As I said the only problem I had was when the fuse block melted and that was my fault. They new they had some defective ones and had sent out a new one for me to install and I put it off to long. If I had done as instructed and changed it I would never had had a problem.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
I got 2 sets of dual e-fans from some small dodge car (can't remember what it is) with a V6 motor, although i haven't installed either of them (my 81 mud bogger, and my 82 ford flareside with 350hp) yet, they fit the rad's on either truck great, and for the wiring i'm just hard wiring them with a 30amp (i think thats the size, i would have to look up a post to be sure) relay and a 3pron toggle switch and a small light to tell me when the fans are turned off. All in all it cost me something like 100 bucks for each one and it will be well worth it (espically in the mud with my 81).
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
I went to a triple e fan setup on my 95 bronco. I have 1 16" fan as the primary and 2 8" fans as back up and they are place in an over/under fashion on the drivers side. they are operated by a second temp control switch and are set to come on at 235deg. The primary 16" fan is set to come on at about 195. The only time the 2 smaller fans came on is when i was towing a 8000lb trailer up a long, steep incline in the dead of summer on a 95degree day. They helped cool the whole thing down.
Plus, they are a nice back up if anything goes wrong with the primary fan
As for the alt, get a 130 to 200 amp model, and a large optima battery.
Ray
Plus, they are a nice back up if anything goes wrong with the primary fan
As for the alt, get a 130 to 200 amp model, and a large optima battery.
Ray
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 4
From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Originally Posted by roger dowty
nice info guys- will go to a junkyard and get a set up or, maybe, look for a decent custom.
And thats right about the after market fan wires and relays being junk...there just not Heavy Duty....
Good Luck on your Project!!
Russ
