Fan Clutch and Flex Fans

[RangerSVT]

I didn't say it wasn't worth the swap. I simply said that electric fans take power from the engine when they're on. There's no such thing as free energy.

There are 2 ways an electric fan can be more efficient than a mechanical one:
1. It's not running all the time
2. It's a different fan with different blades that MAY be more efficient at moving air than the mechanical one.

Given two exact same fan blades and spin them at the exact same speed, one driven directly by a belt and the other driven electrically, they're both gonna use the same exact amount of energy.

The drag caused by the alternator is not constant. With no electrical accessories turned on, it creates very little drag on the engine. Every time you turn something electric on, it creates more drag and takes more power from the engine. By using the law of conservation of energy, the additional drag caused by the fans is going to be the exact same amount of drag caused by a mechanical fan (provided they're the same fan blade, as I said above). As soon as the fans turn off, that additional drag is gone and you are being more efficient than a mechanical fan.

I think we are talking out of the same book, just different pages...
SVT

 

[98RedRanger]

Lately, it has been getting hotter here (in the 90's). And my engine fan has been coming on more often. Even tho the engine is running below 210*F when idling and even cooler when moving. The engine fan stays constantly on. Last year on my road trip, the fan stayed engaged even while the Ranger was moving along at 65mph. Which is a drain on the 2.3L. Upon inspecting the fan, I noticed cracks in the base of the plastic fan. I checked on new parts from the parts store, but they only offer a flex fan. What I was wondering is how good of a combination would it be to have a new fan clutch and a flex fan on the old Lima 2.3L?

This is what happened to me, I replaced my fan clutch and it solved the problem. I believe it was somewhere around $65 at NAPA.

 

[LearjetMinako]

I have already decided on what to get. I'm not going to use auto part stores brands, because most of them are universal. E-Fan would work, but would need more retro fitting for the a/c to work my way. So I'm gonna buy genuie Motorcraft parts and know everything is going to work the way it should.