electric cooling fan

ranger dude · Aug 18, 2007

hey has anyone tried the flexalite electric cooling fan #40 my ranger runs abit on the warm side the "a to l "in traffic with the a/c on it's been hot out lately the old 4.0L getting up there on the miles 195000 just wondering if it work for towing and 4wheeling any suggestions

MAKG · Aug 18, 2007

Electric fans REDUCE cooling capacity despite their claims. This is a bad idea if you're already having problems.

Do check if your viscous clutch is blown. If the temperature only creeps up at very low speed or idle, it's a distinct candidate. Also look for signs of a plugged radiator (especially cool spots in back after turning it off) and a missing fan shroud.

almostclueless · Aug 18, 2007

Yep....VERY few aftermarket electric fans do squat for cooling, and I don't believe there has EVER been a RBV with a substandard cooling system.

Odds are it's the aforementioned fan clutch, loose belt, need for a backflush, or just a good old clogged up radiator.

snake · Aug 18, 2007

if that radiator is original there is a good chance it is clogging. If so, don't rod it out, just replace the darn thing.

Wicked_Sludge · Aug 18, 2007

a bad water pump will cause some of the same symptoms, but chances are better that the radiator is clogged or the fan clutch is toast. it could also be a thermostat stuck partially open.

AgPete139 · Aug 19, 2007

MAKG said:
Electric fans REDUCE cooling capacity despite their claims. This is a bad idea if you're already having problems.

Do check if your viscous clutch is blown. If the temperature only creeps up at very low speed or idle, it's a distinct candidate. Also look for signs of a plugged radiator (especially cool spots in back after turning it off) and a missing fan shroud.

Why do they reduce performance? Why is this true?

Can the less effective electric be offset by a slightly larger radiator? Is there a site or study done to prove this?

Wicked_Sludge · Aug 19, 2007

the majority of electric cooling fans on the market cannot approach the amount of CFM that a mechanical fan can move, thus, less cooling capacity. add that to the fact that most people dont use a proper fan shroud when switching to an electric fan and you get a greatly reduced capacity.

yes the less powerful electric fan can and should be offset with a larger radiator.

JohnnyU · Aug 19, 2007

The only real benefit of switching to an electric fan, in my opinion, is the elimination of the "boat propeller" when traversing deep water. The electric fan can be switched off to prevent water from being thrown all throughout the engine compartment like with a mechanical fan.

JohnnyO · Aug 19, 2007

With a (properly operating) fan clutch, the fan is freewheeling at highway speed anyway. That said, a few people at www.mysporttrac.com and www.explorerforum.com have installed them and like them.

arrabil · Aug 19, 2007

I like it a lot, for the water/mud reason. With a bigger radiator the fan rarely runs. On eBay you can get the OEM version of the Black Magic 150. Its called a ProForm and its half the Summit Racing price of the BM150.

Todd · Aug 19, 2007

JohnnyU said:
The only real benefit of switching to an electric fan, in my opinion, is the elimination of the "boat propeller" when traversing deep water. The electric fan can be switched off to prevent water from being thrown all throughout the engine compartment like with a mechanical fan.

This is the main reason I switched to electric. I these parts during winter wheelin even if you have a good fan shroud a mechanical fan packs the engine compartment full of snow. With an electric you don’t have this problem as it tucked much closer to the rad.

When I switched to electric I also upgraded to a 4.0 radiator. Much thicker then the dinky 2.9 rad.

almostclueless · Aug 19, 2007

Once again, the stock setup is very capable.

MAKG · Aug 20, 2007

The only capacity problem on a properly working stock setup I've seen is a 2.9L in a very punishing environment -- over 10,000 feet altitude, very hot and dry, 26% uphill grade and very low speeds due to curves (Sonora Pass, CA).

Don't screw with the fan itself at all. It REDUCES your capacity, always. If you need more capacity or your radiator is plugged, retrofit the 4.0L 2row radiator ALONE.

The ONLY reason to use an electric fan is to accomodate FREQUENT deep water crossings. For occasional ones, carry a fan clutch tool and just remove the fan each time. FYI, the issue is not spraying the water all over the place. Who cares? It's hydraulically pulling the fan blades into the radiator core.

linuxman2003 · Aug 20, 2007

I had an electric fan on my truck for a little while, and I can vouch for everything everyone here is saying... they dont really do squat for cooling capacity unless you get more than one, and a good shroud. I suppose if you lived somewhere that saw VERY extreme heat all the time it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an eletric pusher fan in addition to the mechanical fan...

Ozwynn · Aug 20, 2007

linuxman2003 said:
I had an electric fan on my truck for a little while, and I can vouch for everything everyone here is saying... they dont really do squat for cooling capacity unless you get more than one, and a good shroud. I suppose if you lived somewhere that saw VERY extreme heat all the time it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an eletric pusher fan in addition to the mechanical fan...

thats a bad idea. the mechanical fan will out pull the electric fan. the electric fan just becomes an obstruction.

I had an electric fan on a 1980 toyota pick up with a 22r. we used a 160* thermosat and the engine stayed around 180 even in the summer going up the sylvan hill on hwy 26 in stop and go traffic.

electric cooling fan

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