Electric VS. Belt driven fans

[AMMO]

In the IH8MUD, UH8MUD, WEH8MUD post the topic was brought up by Moose that electric fans might not be the cats meow for slow crawl trail rigs. I myself am running flex a lite twin 210's. I found this on there site:

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/low-profile-electric.html

"The low profile fans can be ordered with an adjustable thermostat and a/c relay. An optional manual override switch may also be ordered for water crossings and/or mud racing.

Something needs to make air flow through the radiator in order to make it efficiently dissipate the heat drawn from the engine. In a regular car, the airflow created by going down the road usually does the trick, but just like a car struck in a traffic jam, a four wheeler on the trail doesn't have the benefit of natural airflow through the cooling fins. Instead, mechanical means of forcing air past the coolant are needed.

Usually, this is accomplished with a belt-driven fan drawing air through the radiator. This means that when the engine speed is high, so is the fan's speed, and then consequently also its efficiency. That's great for racing up Pike's Peak and other fast paced activities, but not necessarily the hot ticket for trails where engine rpm can remain quite low during the most challenging portion, sometimes for hours on end.

Left with the hot (but minus the ticket), one alternative is an electric fan, which doesn't know (or care) what engine rpm, road speed, or power requirements on hand are, and simply turns on to cool the engine as needed."

What is the census of the forum on this?

-Ammo

 

[RavenTai]

the OEM fan with a new fan clutch is the most reliable and moves plenty of air at low RPM's when the cluch kicks in, electic fans have some niceties, reduced power robbing and better fuel effeciency at highway speeds (when the fan is off) are some of them but they can leave you without any fan from simple thing like geting to to top of the trail and having the water pump studs eat the fan wires causeing you to go back with out any fan at all (seen it happen) if your alternator goes your range on the battery will be greatly reduced, also this failure is more likely from the increased load on the alt

 

[Rich]

From the flex-a-lite website: "What's the best type of fan to have on a vehicle that frequently tows ? A good heavy duty clutch and clutch fan."

In other words, if you need a lot of cooling, go with the belt drive.

 

[AMMO]

From the flex-a-lite website: "What's the best type of fan to have on a vehicle that frequently tows ? A good heavy duty clutch and clutch fan."

In other words, if you need a lot of cooling, go with the belt drive.

Rich,

I would have to say that is left up for argument.

Ammo

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Ok
I stayed out of it in the other thread but here is my two cents.
the amount of cooling needed to maintain the engine operating temperature is not a fixed or static point it is a variable point that changes due to the conditions and style of driving encountered.

While rock crawling or in a traffic jam the engine generally is at lower rpms and therefore does not need all of its cooling capacity in order to keep things at normal temps. you also have the influx of transmision fluid into the equation just to make it even more fun.

in contrast when tearing up pikes peak the engine is creating much more heat due to sustained rpms in higher ranges and again the transmission fluid enters into this. two totally different scenarios with tow totally different needs of air flow.

The electric fan will work fairly well in both applications but IMHOP it wastes a lot of power doing so. sure it would be cool to be able to shut it on or off at the switch but the clutch and belt method is simpler and provides the right amount of air based on the conditions you are driving in. while it is parasitic of horse power it is also very conservative on overall power used to cool the engine. no more than is needed is used.

again this is just my opinion on the subject so diagree if youd like.

Dave

 

[AMMO]

Dave,

Again, thanks for all opinions on this. While i know there is no right or wrong to this, i wanted to open this up for disscussion... and hey that is why we read.

=Ammo

 

[Beowulf]

Another vote for a good belt driven heavy duty clutch and clutch fan.

-B-

 

[Gold Finger]

What I don not understand is why do the diesels that run cooler get an engine driven fan which absorbs power whether you need it or not, while the petrol engines that run hotter get an electric fan that is thermostatically controlled? I even have missing fuses in the fuse box for one and a space for the relay!

 

[RavenTai]

as far as I know all 80 series engine come with engine driven fans Gas or Diesel, are you talking about the empty relay and fuse for the CDS fan? if so read this

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=16352

 

[Gold Finger]

AHHR I guessed wrong, I asumed that petrols had electric fans, my mistake, great pitty would have been a useful upgrade for us oil burners. " condesers AH !

 

[Beowulf]

JDM petrols (VX models ? ) got an electric fan in addition to the engine driven fan.

-B-

 

[Gold Finger]

So presumably if at some time I sourced one from a breakers, it should be just a question of bolting and wiring it up after removing the belt driven one.

 

[Beowulf]

So presumably if at some time I sourced one from a breakers, it should be just a question of bolting and wiring it up after removing the belt driven one.

I don't know if your question is directed toward my comment since you didn't quote anyone. If if yes, then removing the engine fan is not recommended. The OEM electric fan is a supplemental fan and not designed to replace the more effecient engine fan.

-B-

 

[Gold Finger]

If if yes, then removing the engine fan is not recommended. The OEM electric fan is a supplemental fan and not designed to replace the more effecient engine fan.

-B-

Cheers, however in view of the fact itwas used on a petrol engine which runs much hoter than a diesle do yo think it may be adequate for this purpose