Why do I have two fans?

[Dirtman]

I've owned my truck for 10 years and not until today did I find out it has 2 fans...

I was tossing around the idea of getting rid of the clutch fan and installing an electric so I went to measure the shroud to see what size I needed. Stuck my hand in there only to find, it already has an electric fan!

So whats the deal, why is there 2 fans on this thing? Seems like it's not only redundant but also counter productive.

 

[Denisefwd93]

I thought you were talking about your fan club!


Secondary fan rigged up like that to help with cooling when towing or very hot region? How's it wired?

 

[Dirtman]

Considering I only just realized it exists I'm not sure how its wired or when it comes on. I know it never runs after the truck is shut off like some electric fan cars do because I would have herd it running at some point in 10 years.

But you would think when it's not running its just blocking air from the clutch fan or vice versa.

 

[Ranger850]

Maybe, JUST MAYBE, it acts like a turbo for the other fan. Yeah, that's it, and then the, uh... Mechanical fan spins and creates wind, which in turn, spins the secondary fan. Right? Now that the secondary fan is spinning, the mechanical fan doesn't have to work so hard.... Yeah, that sounds about right, I'm a genius...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think the electric one is A/C related on the newer 4cyl trucks.

I have an electric pusher and a mechanical puller flexfan. When the engine is running at a stop the mechancal fan windmills the efan.

 

[Dirtman]

Now im curious to figure out when it turns on and if it actually even still works...

 

[8thTon]

Many years ago I had a new '86 Escort GT, with 5spd. It had AC and no speed control, and the spedometer was mechanical - it had no way to know road speed at all. However, there was some failure where the AC wold only run at speeds of over 40mph - it didn't matter at all what gear you were in, or if it was in neutral, or the rpm. Once the car dropped below 40 the AC shut off.

It had a fan controller that took an input from the AC switch and ran the cooling fan and the AC clutch. I traced that circuit and it turned out transistor had failed, and what happened was that at 40mph the cooling fan spun fast enough to generate a voltage that allowed the AC clutch to come on. The fan was an air speed measurement device!

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

I bought my 2008 Ranger new and it has both the electric fan and clutch fan and it does have a/c and the electric fan comes on when I turn on the a/c and when I turn on the defrost.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Is a larger mystery is... how do you own a truck for 10 years and not know you have two fans!

 

[adsm08]

The electric fan is for AC operation. I believe it will also kick on to prevent over-heating if the computer sees the temps go too high.

I do believe others have removed the mechanical fan and relied only on the E-fan with acceptable results.

 

[Dirtman]

Is a larger mystery is... how do you own a truck for 10 years and not know you have two fans!

Its burried under the fan shroud, impossible to see it without removing something. I physically felt it at first and then had to use a mirror to actually take a peek at it. I've never needed to repair anything in that area.

 

[stmitch]

All duratec trucks with AC came with a clutch fan as well as an Efan.
I used an Efan from one in my truck with an aftermarket controller/temp sensor because the shroud fits the Ranger radiator better than anything else.

 

[Denisefwd93]

I want one!

 

[Dirtman]

You can have mine! I still think this concept is dumb... if the fan only comes on with ac, then having the electric fan is blocking airflow for the damn clutch fan in every other situation.

 

[Denisefwd93]

I would have to say it's a great idea knowing how hot it gets under that hood, like today, must get well over 200! And don't forget no matter how many fans there are, the air has no way to escape, it would be even hotter so if you're stuck in traffic.

I've I've always why automotive design has always kept the heat under the hood instead of designing in
ways for the heat to escape