Electric Fan
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 1
From: Gulfport/Biloxi, MS
Electric Fan
I was just watching power block and the 4x4 guys put an electric fan on a dodge to get better fuel economy. Back when I had an s-10 I remember alot of guys switching to one to try to free up a little bit of power. I have never seen anyone put one on a 7.3 and its got me wondering. I would think that a 7.3 is too big of a motor to rely on an electric fan, but I dont know. Any input?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
IIRC, the general consensus is that if you tow, you can't use the electric fan because it doesn't pull enough air. So you save on the parasitic HP from the fan but now you have a huge electrical draw. Kinda of a push to me.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
However, if there was a real powerful fan, (there is), and you pulled mostly on the highway, so it never really had to come on, I still see it working decent.
What about just putting a clutch on the fan?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
IIRC, someone did the math and to have an electric fan that pulls the same amount of air as the engine driven one you're looking at a fan that draws 800amps. Like they said, probably ok driving around empty, maybe with a small load, but forget towing with an electric setup.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
IIRC, someone did the math and to have an electric fan that pulls the same amount of air as the engine driven one you're looking at a fan that draws 800amps. Like they said, probably ok driving around empty, maybe with a small load, but forget towing with an electric setup.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 2
From: White Mnt's,New Hampshire
Yes, pulling a big trailer in the city would be the worse nightmare of an electric fan, and eventually you're tranny, and possibly engine.
However, if there was a real powerful fan, (there is), and you pulled mostly on the highway, so it never really had to come on, I still see it working decent.
What about just putting a clutch on the fan?
However, if there was a real powerful fan, (there is), and you pulled mostly on the highway, so it never really had to come on, I still see it working decent.
What about just putting a clutch on the fan?
IIRC, someone did the math and to have an electric fan that pulls the same amount of air as the engine driven one you're looking at a fan that draws 800amps. Like they said, probably ok driving around empty, maybe with a small load, but forget towing with an electric setup.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
No -- AMPS. People tend to forget that fans of that size are VERY power hungry. I think the ones I've seen advertised for our trucks (for light towing only) are like 50A. That would seriously tax the stock alt. It would be wise upgrade the alt before putting that in, IMHO...
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
No, definitely amps. I'm not sure on the exact amount of HP the fan needs at full lock up but I think its 15-20 HP. When you convert that to watts and then to amps at 12vdc, its way up there.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
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From: Lee's Summit, MO
How many cfm is the stock fan pulling? I think the math is correct, but an electric fan's rating will be different than using hp. They sell electric fans for other diesel trucks, so why won't it work on the 7.3l? I'd think 2 4000 cfm fans should be enough. They won't even pull 100A let alone 800.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Lee's Summit, MO
Motor Parts Central: - 98 to 03 F250/F350 Ford Power Stroke Diesel Electric Fan.
Here is one I found. 6000cfm will cool about anything. I'd bet the stock fan won't pull that most of the time.
Here is one I found. 6000cfm will cool about anything. I'd bet the stock fan won't pull that most of the time.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
The ones they sell for our trucks just plain do not work when towing. The truck will run hot and the fans are a pain.
IIRC they do not even sell them any more because of this very issue.
There is just not enough gain to offset the loss.
IIRC they do not even sell them any more because of this very issue.
There is just not enough gain to offset the loss.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Motor Parts Central: - 98 to 03 F250/F350 Ford Power Stroke Diesel Electric Fan.
Here is one I found. 6000cfm will cool about anything. I'd bet the stock fan won't pull that most of the time.
Here is one I found. 6000cfm will cool about anything. I'd bet the stock fan won't pull that most of the time.