First, yes contrary to popular belief, I am still alive.
So I purchased a Landtank Modified Blue Hub Fan Clutch on 6/19/2012 from Overland Exchange and it worked great for 5 years. This year I noticed that temperatures were starting to move up on hot days, especially going up to the Sierras (Highway 80 from Auburn up to Truckee, so 100F with the truck floored going from second to third for miles at a time). Where I would normally expect to see temperatures of no more than 205f or so, I was seeing 215-218 (keeping in mind on the worst days, it can be 110f, so not at the worst of summer yet).
I am confident it is not the radiator as I replaced that before a long trip to Whistler last year and temperatures were good. (Sidebar, if you have not weatherstripped all the openings around the radiator, especially the big gap at the bottom, you have not enjoyed an 80 that you can actually turn the AC fan down from high to 3 when it is 100f because it has gotten too cold). My other clue was that the truck did not sound like a jet when climbing, where before you would hear the fan engage and disengage.
So, this morning I decide to pull the clutch off and check it. Upon opening it, I was treated to perfectly clear fluid that looked brand new. I then decided to throw it in a water bath and check to see where it was opening. Using a thermopop (nice accurate instant read thermometer), I started heating the water slowly at 90f. 95f, nothing. 100f, nothing. 105f, nothing. 110f, nothing. 116f, oh, there it is. Hmm, maybe that is the issue. So I re calibrated to 100f (I know, Landtank does 95f, but I do have to pay for gas) and put it back together leaving the same fluid in it.
I will see how it does this weekend, but it is only supposed to be mid 90s on the way up. I anticipate this should bring the temps back down where they should be. So, if you have a Landtank fan clutch and it isn't working as well as it used to, it is probably worth an hour of your time to pull it check if the calibration has changed over time.
So I purchased a Landtank Modified Blue Hub Fan Clutch on 6/19/2012 from Overland Exchange and it worked great for 5 years. This year I noticed that temperatures were starting to move up on hot days, especially going up to the Sierras (Highway 80 from Auburn up to Truckee, so 100F with the truck floored going from second to third for miles at a time). Where I would normally expect to see temperatures of no more than 205f or so, I was seeing 215-218 (keeping in mind on the worst days, it can be 110f, so not at the worst of summer yet).
I am confident it is not the radiator as I replaced that before a long trip to Whistler last year and temperatures were good. (Sidebar, if you have not weatherstripped all the openings around the radiator, especially the big gap at the bottom, you have not enjoyed an 80 that you can actually turn the AC fan down from high to 3 when it is 100f because it has gotten too cold). My other clue was that the truck did not sound like a jet when climbing, where before you would hear the fan engage and disengage.
So, this morning I decide to pull the clutch off and check it. Upon opening it, I was treated to perfectly clear fluid that looked brand new. I then decided to throw it in a water bath and check to see where it was opening. Using a thermopop (nice accurate instant read thermometer), I started heating the water slowly at 90f. 95f, nothing. 100f, nothing. 105f, nothing. 110f, nothing. 116f, oh, there it is. Hmm, maybe that is the issue. So I re calibrated to 100f (I know, Landtank does 95f, but I do have to pay for gas) and put it back together leaving the same fluid in it.
I will see how it does this weekend, but it is only supposed to be mid 90s on the way up. I anticipate this should bring the temps back down where they should be. So, if you have a Landtank fan clutch and it isn't working as well as it used to, it is probably worth an hour of your time to pull it check if the calibration has changed over time.