Fan Clutch Std or HD?

[MorePower7701]

I might have a problem with my fan clutch and wondered what type would be best. Most of the auto parts stores offer a standard or heavy duty cooling fan clutch. Which one does best at lower RPMs?

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

HI!... Go with a electric fan. You will free up some H.P/TQ and get about 2MPG better gas mileage. I did.

 

[Bob Ayers]

HI!... Go with a electric fan. You will free up some H.P/TQ and get about 2MPG better gas mileage. I did.

If the fan clutch is working properly, there is no advantage to an e-fan, only disadvantages:

1) Less reliable
2) Less cooling capacity

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

If the fan clutch is working properly, there is no advantage to an e-fan, only disadvantages:

1) Less reliable
2) Less cooling capacity

HI!... Actually thats where your wrong. You get more cooling with the electric fan. Most properly designed electric fan kits with out flow the stock clutch fan at it's max rpm. But the electric fan will give you it's max CFM all the time not at certain RPMS like the clutch fan will. I've had plenty of mechanical and clutch style fans fail over the years. Never had a electric one fail me yet. The 4X4 guys like electrical due to they can over ride it and turn it off when going through water crossings and deep mud. Where a clutch fan would get destroyed. Also the electric fan can be used to cool the vehicle down when the engine is not running, unlike that of a mechanical/clutch fan. You will also free up H.P/TQ, and get better MPG with a electrical. I've been running the same two DERALE electric fans now on my F-150 for over 10 years. No issues. Even the auto makers know the benefits of the electric fan. Most now run them.

 

[Bob Ayers]

HI!... Actually thats where your wrong. You get more cooling with the electric fan. Most properly designed electric fan kits with out flow the stock clutch fan at it's max rpm. But the electric fan will give you it's max CFM all the time not at certain RPMS like the clutch fan will. I've had plenty of mechanical and clutch style fans fail over the years. Never had a electric one fail me yet. The 4X4 guys like electrical due to they can over ride it and turn it off when going through water crossings and deep mud. Where a clutch fan would get destroyed. Also the electric fan can be used to cool the vehicle down when the engine is not running, unlike that of a mechanical/clutch fan. You will also free up H.P/TQ, and get better MPG with a electrical. I've been running the same two DERALE electric fans now on my F-150 for over 10 years. No issues. Even the auto makers know the benefits of the electric fan. Most now run them.

WRONG!!!! Check this out, even e-fan manufacturers recommend staying with the OEM mechanical fan in heavy towing applications!! Show me a
diesel pickup with ONLY an E-FAN!!!!

 

[Bob Ayers]

HI!... Actually thats where your wrong. You get more cooling with the electric fan. Most properly designed electric fan kits with out flow the stock clutch fan at it's max rpm. But the electric fan will give you it's max CFM all the time not at certain RPMS like the clutch fan will. I've had plenty of mechanical and clutch style fans fail over the years. Never had a electric one fail me yet. The 4X4 guys like electrical due to they can over ride it and turn it off when going through water crossings and deep mud. Where a clutch fan would get destroyed. Also the electric fan can be used to cool the vehicle down when the engine is not running, unlike that of a mechanical/clutch fan. You will also free up H.P/TQ, and get better MPG with a electrical. I've been running the same two DERALE electric fans now on my F-150 for over 10 years. No issues. Even the auto makers know the benefits of the electric fan. Most now run them.

You need to do a little research!! You will notice that cars that are designed to use an e-fan (front wheel drive, transverse engines) have a much larger capacity radiator, to compensate for the reduced cooling capacity of the e-fan. So, putting an e-fan on a vehicle designed with a mechanical fan will cause cooling problems, and AC performance problems......

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

You need to do a little research!! You will notice that cars that are designed to use an e-fan (front wheel drive, transverse engines) have a much larger capacity radiator, to compensate for the reduced cooling capacity of the e-fan. So, putting an e-fan on a vehicle designed with a mechanical fan will cause cooling problems, and AC performance problems......

HI!... Ah BOB your wrong once again. I've already proved my point over and over again with my personal experience for the last 20 years. I've tested different products on the dyno and at the track. It all comes down to the electric fan concept is superior over the mechanical/clutch fan set-ups. That's old school. Welcome to the 21 century.

I've already received many PM's about arguing with you that it's pointless due to YOUR ALWAYS RIGHT no matter what. So I'll not waste any more time with you proving you wrong. I make sure to wave to you as I pass you at the dragstrip, at the gas station.... etc...........

 

[Bob Ayers]

HI!... Ah BOB your wrong once again. I've already proved my point over and over again ...

You haven't posted a single thing to prove ANYTHING you have said......

your words are CHEAP!!!!!

 

[jmg8550]

The reason manufacturers started using clutch type fans was to free up H.P. Also they started using serpentine belts to have the same effect. Electric fans are worthless. especially where I live when it gets very cold and the fan blades shatter and the engine takes far longer to warm up. The manufacturers know what they are doing when it comes to reliability and performance. Leave it alone. And if you want to argue with me let me ask you something H.P. Freak, how many years experience as a mechanic do you have? All that stuff you did to your truck is WORTHLESS!

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

 

[jmg8550]

Real mature. And you miss spelled ONTARIO!

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

The reason manufacturers started using clutch type fans was to free up H.P. Also they started using serpentine belts to have the same effect. Electric fans are worthless. especially where I live when it gets very cold and the fan blades shatter and the engine takes far longer to warm up. The manufacturers know what they are doing when it comes to reliability and performance. Leave it alone. And if you want to argue with me let me ask you something H.P. Freak, how many years experience as a mechanic do you have? All that stuff you did to your truck is WORTHLESS!

HI!... Well it gets very cold here also. Never seen a electric fan blade shatter. Btw the F-150 and Ranger clutch fans have plastic blades......Mabey you should stop buying CHEAP fans. Actually the engine will warm up quicker with a electric fan due to it's not spinning when the truck is cold! The mechanical/clutch fans still spins at idle when the truck is cold and still tries to pull cold air through the rad. As for the factories knowing what there doing for reliability and performance? That's funny right there. So I guess that's why Ford puts all their trans coolers behind the bumpers where they are useless? I guess thats why FORD put 4 spark plug threads in the modular P.I heads to use with a 9 threaded spark plug and 1 out of 4 has spark plug blow out? I guess thats why FORD rated the 4R70-W trans at 700FT/lbs and after the 5.4's, 345FT/LBS goes through the converter (x 2.2) it already maxes out the 4R70-W's max TQ rating? I could go on and on. The factories build vehicles to get them off the assembly line as fast as they can.

As far as the stuff I've done to my RANGER is worthless. HMMM. I spent $350(CAN) to make my RANGER go from 15.8E.T to 14.67E.T, it gets about 5-6 MPG better gas mileage.

Ya ......................

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

And you miss spelled ONTARIO!

priceless...

in this instance, bob is right. e-fans are less reliable and reduce cooling capacity. so much so, that mid 90's chevy pickups came with a mechanical fan UPGRADE with their towing package.

the fan clutch has the exact same function as the e-fans relays, to switch the fan "off" when cooling is not needed (such as driving down the highway unloaded). thus, no MPG gains. furthermore e-fans must draw their energy from the extremely inefficient alternator, making it nearly impossible for an e-fan to be more efficient.

 

[THE H.P FREAK]

priceless...

in this instance, bob is right. e-fans are less reliable and reduce cooling capacity. so much so, that mid 90's chevy pickups came with a mechanical fan UPGRADE with their towing package.

the fan clutch has the exact same function as the e-fans relays, to switch the fan "off" when cooling is not needed (such as driving down the highway unloaded). thus, no MPG gains. furthermore e-fans must draw their energy from the extremely inefficient alternator, making it nearly impossible for an e-fan to be more efficient.

HI!... So how do you explain how my truck picked up 5-6MPG and dropped 1.13 off my 1/4 mile times with the 3 mods that they say here don't work and are worthless? You can't.

I've been hot rodding, modding and racing since I was like 8 years old. I know what mods work and what don't. I'm sorry but your all wrong. It's been proven like a million times at the tracks, at the dynos, and in books that they do work. I can't believe that some people are just so small minded that they can't see this. It just simply amazes me. I can't wait to bring this thread up for a discussion at the local racers hangout tonight. Boy are we going to laugh....... at you guys.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i hope you and your race car buddies have a great time.

dyno sheet or GTFO