fan clutch as HG PM?

[speyrod]

I recently did the HG and a bunch of other stuff. I'm curious has anyone replaced the fan clutch early on still had the HG go? I'm curious because of the gauge design to stay in the "normal" range. I've been with other cruisers (mine had also done this) who have overflowed a little coolant with the guage right in the center. Situations were similar, climbing a hill (not steep) for about 1/2 mile at about 30-40 mph. Stop at the trail head and a few drops/dribble of coolant started to appear out the overflow. Was this a sign of the fan clutch going bad? After repeated similar occurances I could see where this could cause additional movement around of head and cause the HG to go?

just coming up for air at the office, random thoughts

 

[cruiserdan]

I would replace the clutch if the one on the vehicle is other than the version with the royal blue base.

 

[speyrod]

Dan, I replaced mine with the blue. My point is with the lack of sensitivity of the guage you are boiling over prior to the gauge climbing. I think that this might be due to the fan clutch and contributes to the HG failures. It was just a thought.

 

[cruiserdan]

The overly-dampened stock gauge has nothing to do with the fan clutch.

 

[speyrod]

Dan,

If the fan clutch slips and causes the engine to run hotter than mister T's engineers designed it too, say +15-35 degrees when the conditions dictate. However, this change in temp would not be noticed due to the "overly dampened" gauge. I would suspect that would be harder on the HG? Then the gauge would not indicate an issue that could be traced to the fan clutch.

 

[CJF]

Speyrod,

Even the "overly dampened" stock gauge should certainly not allow boilover without rising as long as it's functioning as Mr. Toyoda intended and you have anywhere near a 50-50 antifreeze-water mix in the cooling system.

That said, of course you should always replace any older, suspect parts of our cooling systems, since the gauge only gives you warning of serious overheating, and going near/into the red even once can mean death.

Curtis

 

[speyrod]

Curtis,

I don't believe the gauge or maybe the temp sensor are sensitive enough to indicate the changes in temp. Similar to the fuel gauge, many of us get 200 miles in the first half tank and 100 in the second half tank.

My point is if you saw the gauge read 3/4 instead of half most of us would investigate to correct the issue. If that investigation lead to a fan clutch that was going, could it save the HG. BTW, Mr. T also changed/ updated the fan clutch gotta wonder why?

I'm not saying this is an absolute but I also think there could be a connection.

I also understand the fan clutch and the temp gauge at not connected directly in any manner.

 

[semlin]

the temp sensor is plenty sensitive enough. read the temp gauge mod thread.

yes a bad fan clutch could speed up the demise of your h/g. no a good h/g is not going to necessarily save it but every little bit helps.

 

[CJF]

Ok, I see where you're going: maybe the fan clutch is like heart disease, eating away at you without any symptoms until it's too late.

But, I can't see how we'd verify your theory without a bunch of people with aftermarket gauges 1) seeing alarming variations in that gauge but not the stock one, and further 2) disproportionately solving the problem by replacing the clutch as opposed to other parts of the cooling system.

Not saying you're not on to something,

Curtis

P.S. Now go put your tinfoil hat back on.

P.P.S. Kidding.

 

[speyrod]

Going thru a merger at work, random thoughts must come to mind. Now if I could view the cheerleader thread at work it might be different.

I agree testing would be difficult.


Other than do I re-low for a pro-mo or stay and take a de-mo until "the" opportunity becomes available. Oh yeah, and keep a market alive and excited.

 

[Proven]

All this talk about fan clutches and the like, has anyone thought about or done a conversion to an electric fan instead of the manually powered fan?

 

[semlin]

yup, there is a very lengthy thread on fan options