Over Heating Excursion
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,237
Likes: 22
From: Florida
Monsta,
Question...I was just checking my tranny fluid 5 minutes ago in preparation for my upcoming 2000 mile towing trip and noticed the fan running...is it a two / multi speed fan? I ask this because last year while pulllng the long and steep mountain passes...when I would down shift to 1st gear there was an IMMEDIATE ROAR...it took me a while to correlate it as the fan and not RPMs as the RPMs would stay high but the ROAR would fade and then come back...I initially thought it was an aux fan but you corrected me...so now my question is does the fan kick into overdrive or something when needed?...because as it runs in my garage at idle is NOT the same sound I hear when turning 4500 RPMs pulling a 9700' pass at 94 degrees outside temps with front and rear A/C running full bore...!
joe.
Question...I was just checking my tranny fluid 5 minutes ago in preparation for my upcoming 2000 mile towing trip and noticed the fan running...is it a two / multi speed fan? I ask this because last year while pulllng the long and steep mountain passes...when I would down shift to 1st gear there was an IMMEDIATE ROAR...it took me a while to correlate it as the fan and not RPMs as the RPMs would stay high but the ROAR would fade and then come back...I initially thought it was an aux fan but you corrected me...so now my question is does the fan kick into overdrive or something when needed?...because as it runs in my garage at idle is NOT the same sound I hear when turning 4500 RPMs pulling a 9700' pass at 94 degrees outside temps with front and rear A/C running full bore...!
joe.
Last edited by X_Hemi_Guy; Jul 16, 2007 at 04:18 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by Monsta
His 2000 doesn't have a tranny temp gauge. Wasn't until 04 that Excursions got 'em...or was it 03? 
SOrry for the jhijack!
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
I've noticed that the first drive of the day can have the fan engaged. I figure that is normal.
The way the clutch works in layman's terms is thus. The fan is mounted through a assembly that has fluid in it. When this fluid gets hot it begins to solidify and cause the fan to turn on an almost 1:1 basis with the engine. When the fluid is cold is still creates a bit of drag causing the fan to turn but at a rate that is slower than what the engine is turning.
If the fan does not engage when the engine is overheating then two things could be wrong. 1. The fan clutch is inoperative. 2. The coolant is not flowing through the radiator (heat exchanger actually). It is the heated air that moves through the radiator that heats up the clutch assembly and not the engine coolant or block as far as I know.
The way the clutch works in layman's terms is thus. The fan is mounted through a assembly that has fluid in it. When this fluid gets hot it begins to solidify and cause the fan to turn on an almost 1:1 basis with the engine. When the fluid is cold is still creates a bit of drag causing the fan to turn but at a rate that is slower than what the engine is turning.
If the fan does not engage when the engine is overheating then two things could be wrong. 1. The fan clutch is inoperative. 2. The coolant is not flowing through the radiator (heat exchanger actually). It is the heated air that moves through the radiator that heats up the clutch assembly and not the engine coolant or block as far as I know.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,237
Likes: 22
From: Florida
Monsta,
Thanks...great explaination (for me at least)!
It fits perfectly to my real-world experience of that fan engaging on down shift to "match" engine RPM...that's why the first time it kicked in while pulling a long steep grade and I had to down shift after coming up on a blue-hair in a Honda Civic (no offense meant to the Civic)...the ROAR was unreal...but as I continued pulling in 1st gear at 4500RPMs the ROAR faded momentarily but the engine RPM's stayed constant...the ROAR would then spool back up and go...that's when I figured it was the fan...
On mine...I ONLY hear the ROAR when I tow as I pretty much drive like an old man all the time (towing and not) BUT when towing I run the RPMs up high...when not towing...I don't turn near as high RPMs!...hey maybe I was driving that Civic up that mountain pass as an out of body experience?...NOT...
Thanks again!
joe.
Thanks...great explaination (for me at least)!
It fits perfectly to my real-world experience of that fan engaging on down shift to "match" engine RPM...that's why the first time it kicked in while pulling a long steep grade and I had to down shift after coming up on a blue-hair in a Honda Civic (no offense meant to the Civic)...the ROAR was unreal...but as I continued pulling in 1st gear at 4500RPMs the ROAR faded momentarily but the engine RPM's stayed constant...the ROAR would then spool back up and go...that's when I figured it was the fan...
On mine...I ONLY hear the ROAR when I tow as I pretty much drive like an old man all the time (towing and not) BUT when towing I run the RPMs up high...when not towing...I don't turn near as high RPMs!...hey maybe I was driving that Civic up that mountain pass as an out of body experience?...NOT...
Thanks again!
joe.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: birmingham
Monsta, are you sure the 2000 excursion with the 5.4 has the silicone arrangement vs. the bi-metallic method? My mechanic says I have the Bi-Metallic.
I am hoping it is the silicone in that I have an unexplained oil like stain in the street where I have parked in the past.
fj
I am hoping it is the silicone in that I have an unexplained oil like stain in the street where I have parked in the past.
fj
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
my 2001 ex v10 has been doing the same thing.... overheats while towing up hills.... theromstat change did nothing.... running heater and fan helps cool most of the time.... napa fan clutch is next option at $210.00... i do not hear a roar like on the psd ambulances at work when under a load
Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 559
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Did you happen to lose the long plastic "barrier" that is bolted beneath the radiator on the core support after the accident? This plastic "air dam" prevents the air passing through the radiator from recirculating back forward due to a negative pressure area under the radiator.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Texas
I'm going with fan clutch. Just replaced it on my truck and it solved my cooling issue. You'll know the roar when you hear it....!
Sometimes you get the roar when it's first started up. My Yukon used to do that sometimes. I'd be slowly driving away and it would sound like I had it floored in first gear...lol...!
Sometimes you get the roar when it's first started up. My Yukon used to do that sometimes. I'd be slowly driving away and it would sound like I had it floored in first gear...lol...!
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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I have a 2000 V10 with 125K miles and had an overheating issue over the weekend on a long tow. On my way up to Virginia started seeing the temp climb when going up hills. I was able to keep it under control by taking it easy. Took it in out of town and the dealer performed cooling service replacing the coolant and thermostat, also told me the fan clutch was “weak” and recommended replacing. I elected not to replace the fan clutch as “weak” didn’t make much sense to me.
Continued on my trip and the Ex continued to overheat. I was able to keep it under control without pushing it and running too fast. Made a bunch of calls to dealers up and down the highway looking for a fan clutch. Found one and took it in but they diagnosed it as a clogged radiator and recommended that I not spend my money needlessly on a fan clutch. The basis for their diagnosis was that the radiator showed a 50 degree difference from one side to the other.
Back home now and spoke with my local guy me, he is going to do a flow test to check out the radiator on Monday
Continued on my trip and the Ex continued to overheat. I was able to keep it under control without pushing it and running too fast. Made a bunch of calls to dealers up and down the highway looking for a fan clutch. Found one and took it in but they diagnosed it as a clogged radiator and recommended that I not spend my money needlessly on a fan clutch. The basis for their diagnosis was that the radiator showed a 50 degree difference from one side to the other.
Back home now and spoke with my local guy me, he is going to do a flow test to check out the radiator on Monday
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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my fan clutch was fine. clogged radiator was the problem. i skipped the flow test and went straight to a new radiatior. i had a problem with two of the new radiators, they had bad fittings that leaked. napa replaced them and napa even footed the bill for flushing my transmission.
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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I was convinced today that it is the radiator.
I was told that a fan or fan clutch problem would indicate a problem at idle or in traffic. Since my issue is highways speeds and only when towing, this indicates poor radiator flow. Also tested for a head gasket leak and everything was fine.
I have ordered a new radiator; will let you know the outcome.
I was told that a fan or fan clutch problem would indicate a problem at idle or in traffic. Since my issue is highways speeds and only when towing, this indicates poor radiator flow. Also tested for a head gasket leak and everything was fine.
I have ordered a new radiator; will let you know the outcome.
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