2.3L ('83-'97) High intake temps (radiator fan shroud?)

[wisepapajohn]

Howdy all, my 97 2.3l is a little sluggish when cool but after idling for 5+ minutes it's a real struggle to get moving from a stop. I plugged up my OBD2 reader and noticed that my intake air temps creep up like crazy when not moving.

It's around 90° here in Memphis and the intake temp sits around 110° when moving. It'll creep up to about 120° at a red light and I've seen it jump up to 160° when idling for 5+ minutes. Coolant stays pretty consistent at 180° when moving, then 200ish at idle. I have the stock intake that draws air from the fender.

The truck has the stock (cracked) mechanical fan with no fan shroud. I'm thinking the fan is blowing the hot radiator air all over the engine bay and soaking my intake tubing with hot air. Shrouds are hard to find online and there are surprisingly few junkyard Rangers in my area, so no luck going that route. Has anybody on here made their own fan shroud? I'm debating between that and springing for an electric fan w/ shroud.

 

[franklin2]

I wonder what your coolant temps are? Fan shrouds really improve the air pulled through the radiator.

They have these which would be quick to install, and better than nothing. Don't be afraid of the through the fin mounting. I used to wonder about it also, but some electric fan kits mount that way also and I had one that lasted a very long time mounted through the fins with no problems.

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[Blmpkn]

eBay has loads of shrouds for right around 50$ shipped, they're actual full shrouds too.. what you posted really feels more like an aesthetic piece rather than something made to actually function.

Replace the mech fan as well. It's the superior fan unless you're willing to spend big bucks on an electric one.. moves WAY more air.

 

[bobbywalter]

that is normal. a shroud might make it worse. might help. you have to try it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Manual transmission 2.3L rangers without A/C don't have fan shrouds, just a shield at the top to keep your fingers out of the fan...

Your experiences are similar to mine on my '97, it runs like garbage when the outside temperatures are over '90 which I have found to be intake temperature based as while I was watching the spark advance and intake temperature at the same time on the Torque app with my blue dongle thing while accelerating at low speeds with high intake temps the spark advance will go NEGATIVE, IE it has no power (not that it's a powerhouse to start with), but I found out that if I feather the clutch and run it over 3000rpm it's not near as bad... I have a plan to just bypass the temp sensor with a resistor to make it think the air temp is like 80F and let the O2 take care of the fueling but haven't gotten that far...

For the record it was 98F here today, my fan was screaming and robbing power and that's exactly what I did while yelling at all the dumbasses I was stuck behind that had electric fans and A/C that had not a care in the world and would just wait out green lights while I had my arm out the window flailing and using it as a scoop once I did get moving... I would have honked but I was usually 20 cars behind the problem because people are stupid...

 

[wisepapajohn]

Thanks all.

I should've mentioned, my Ranger does have AC and PS. The problem isn't nearly as bad when the AC is off(as you'd expect) but spent far too much time and money getting the AC up and running to roll without it.
I've been cutting the AC off when the traffic light turns green, then turning back on once I get to about 15mph. Gets me where I need to go, but I don't want to have to do that, y'know?

I wonder what your coolant temps are? Fan shrouds really improve the air pulled through the radiator.

Coolant runs a bit low if anything. 180° while moving & seems to max out at 200° at idle. I replaced the water pump a few years ago when my timing belt snapped and there's a very good chance I never put a thermostat back in when reassembling. In my defense, it was about 15° out and I was moving across town the next day so I was in a hurry

I'll go with an ebay shroud and see if that makes any difference. Very good chance my fan clutch is seized too, so I'll add that to the list. Shame Rock Auto doesn't sell the fan/shroud.

I wonder if it'd be worth trying to insulate the intake tubing. Or getting a heat shield for the exhaust, that being unblocked definitely isn't doing me any favors

 

[Blmpkn]

Thanks all.

I should've mentioned, my Ranger does have AC and PS. The problem isn't nearly as bad when the AC is off(as you'd expect) but spent far too much time and money getting the AC up and running to roll without it.
I've been cutting the AC off when the traffic light turns green, then turning back on once I get to about 15mph. Gets me where I need to go, but I don't want to have to do that, y'know?


Coolant runs a bit low if anything. 180° while moving & seems to max out at 200° at idle. I replaced the water pump a few years ago when my timing belt snapped and there's a very good chance I never put a thermostat back in when reassembling. In my defense, it was about 15° out and I was moving across town the next day so I was in a hurry

I'll go with an ebay shroud and see if that makes any difference. Very good chance my fan clutch is seized too, so I'll add that to the list. Shame Rock Auto doesn't sell the fan/shroud.

I wonder if it'd be worth trying to insulate the intake tubing. Or getting a heat shield for the exhaust, that being unblocked definitely isn't doing me any favors

That heat reflective gold tape would be a better idea for the intake tubing.. insulating it would just make your issues worse once it gets heat soaked.

Insulating the header on the other hand.. that would be adventagous.