cooling fan question
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: nova scotia
cooling fan question
my 85 f150 351w has the cooling fan hooked up so it is on all the time.by that i mean no fan clutch. is this truck suppose to have a fan clutch or is what i have now the proper way. thanks
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From: Virginia
I am not sure about the 85's, but my 1980 had the heavy duty cooling option with A/C, and it had the solid hub driven fan with no clutch. I can't say if they had that setup in 85, or possibly someone swapped in the same setup I had when your clutch went out some time before you bought it.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: nova scotia
would it be to my benefit to add a fan clutch. i live in atlantic canada with cold winters and summers in the mid 20's celius.(mid 70's F). thanks
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
You'd pick up a couple hp and fuel economy would be a little better, probably barely noticeable so I'd look for a used (cheap) one.
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Posting Guru
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
If you really want to pick up HP and a little bit better fuel mileage, swap in an electric fan from a later model Town Car, Grand Marquis, or Crown Vic. It bolts in with very little modification, wires in with 2 relays, and gives a noticible seat-of-the-pants gain in performance. There's a number of sites that provide wiring schematics.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
Whatever you do dont pick up a used one, you dont know how good it is, if the bearing in it is even the slightest bit questionable it can kill your water pump over time, that's why they should always be replaced in pairs. Or like Bill said, go electric, that's the better way.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Yes, it's been my experience the clutch fan clutch will eventually fail, just like any other part like a alternator, waterpump, etc. If that doesn't bother you, it will give less drag on the engine. If you never want to mess with it, then leave what you have on there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2009
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From: Bay Area, Unfortunately
I did the electric fan. To be honest, I did not notice much of a gain in mileage at all - although I went from a clutch fan. I did notice a little better seat of the pants performance though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Suffolk, VA USA
With the electric fan I got a very modest gain of about 2 mpg....doesn't sound like much in mpg, but was still a 14-15% gain. It was really the power that the conversion freed up that made the job worthwhile.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
It depended on what cooling option you had, as to wether you got a fan clutch or not.
Standard Cool, No fan Clutch.
Extra Cool, some had centrifugal fan clutches, some had factory flex fans. Depends on year and engine.
Super Cool, some had centrifugal (no spring), or Thermostatic (spring on front) fan clutches depending on options and engine etc... A/C etc... Super Cooling was standard on 4.9L engines with A/C for instance.
Standard Cool, No fan Clutch.
Extra Cool, some had centrifugal fan clutches, some had factory flex fans. Depends on year and engine.
Super Cool, some had centrifugal (no spring), or Thermostatic (spring on front) fan clutches depending on options and engine etc... A/C etc... Super Cooling was standard on 4.9L engines with A/C for instance.
