Need opinions on electric aux fans

[fjc8871]

I wouldnt run THE aux fan on the highway, there no point. Air will be flowing into the front.

My issue was that even at highway speeds, the car was heating up. The front AC condensor, and the tranny cooler were all clogged up with nasty mud. No air flow to the radiator basically. Check these out just in case. After taking the grill off, it made cleaning much easier.

For my setup, it has helped with cooling down when I turn it on going 65 - 70mph on an uphill grade on the hwy. That's when I needed it most.

 

[SOCALFJ]

I agree, the electric aux fan is for low speed situations only, like traffic, rockcrawling etc. When running on the highway, you shouldn't need anything but the air forced in from the open road.

 

[fjc8871]

I agree, the electric aux fan is for low speed situations only, like traffic, rockcrawling etc. When running on the highway, you shouldn't need anything but the air forced in from the open road.

I use it at low speed as well. Maybe I was over cautious at high speed. When the temp on the scangauge would climp to 205-211 I would turn it on at high or low speeds. did not want to chance it. Since I replaced the fan clutch, I have not needed the aux fan (so far).

 

[AdventureBuddies]

I get not running the fan at highway speeds for the above-mentioned reasons. Some people wire it to come on with their A/C which means that the fan would be running regardless of speed. My questions really is: are there negative consequences to running the fan at highway speeds or is it just not going to change anything?

 

[calfj60]

I get not running the fan at highway speeds for the above-mentioned reasons. Some people wire it to come on with their A/C which means that the fan would be running regardless of speed. My questions really is: are there negative consequences to running the fan at highway speeds or is it just not going to change anything?

I don't see a negative.. Just pushes the hot air through the engine compartment and out the bottom...

 

[fj80toyman]

As has been noted, running the fan at highway speed is not productive, the air speed and amount while driving at that speed is much more than the fan could possibly be.

As to whether it is actually counter-productive to cooling at speed, that's a good question. I would say that if your fan is overly large or maybe the blades don't freely rotate with air flowing across them, it's something that I would be concerned about, but I wouldn't worry about it blocking too much air.

I think if someone were really fastidious ($5 word for compulsive?), they could block off any other opening in the radiator support area behind the grill so all the air that comes through the grill would be forced to go through the condenser and radiator.

Dan.

 

[ScottyDog]

When i had my Jeep XJ it had 2 fans, belt driven and electric. The Electric was behind the radiator and would come on when either the A/C was turned on or when the temp got above 220*. Highway speed or not... The funny thing was when the electric fan switched on you you could see the difference in the temp gauge....

Anyway, I went down to Ecology Auto Wrecking today and went hunting down some electric fans. I found a 12"x12"x2.5" Nippon Denso four blade fan in a 95 4Runner which I pulled in about 10 minutes... but decided to walk around and see what else was out there... I only stuck around the SUV/TRUCK/VAN section to see what was there... Lots of Jeep Chrokees, couple of 4 Runners... nothing spectacular. Anyway I came across a Matsuda MPV mini van with a front fan similar in size to the 4 runner, except it was a 6 blade fan vs. 4 blade fan and it had rubber grommets that protect the fins of the a/c condensor when it sits up against it.... I'm heading up to Bishop to do some fishing so maybe in the next week or so I'll get it wired up and installed.... BTW, if anyone wants to hit Ecology this weekend, their having a 50% off sale....

Thanks,
Scott

 

[calfj60]

Sounds like a happy hunting day... Glad you found something.. Sounds like it should work nicely and in my opinion why not just install itvand run it when you need it.. Enjoy your fishing trip!!

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

I am running a 2nd generation 4Runner pusher fan from the junkyard. Fabbed a bracket and it looks like the JDM fan. Wired it to the stock fuse box CDS FAN relay and fuse. I didn't want to take up any of the few stock switch locations with a fan switch so it's triggered by the AC pressure switch. It runs automatically and I never have to worry about it. Toyota designed it this way.

In the unlikely event I ever have a water crossing, I can just shut the AC off and the fan will follow shortly thereafter. ICE COOL AC is all I feel now.

I typically run 186*-193* with a Scanguage II temp reading. Rarely do I see 200*. Usually only if towing uphill. I also have functional hood louvers to aid in cooling but the BIG LightForce 240's up front block airflow, so it may be a wash.

 

[calfj60]

Hood louvers??? Pics?? Sorry for the hijack...

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Hood louvers??? Pics?? Sorry for the hijack...

Yeah, I cut holes in the hood and used stock hood louvers from the 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9L Limited Edition. I had one of these vehicles, so I knew that they actually drew heat out due to their shape.

I removed the rain guard though so there was nothing blocking the flow of heat out.

 

[calfj60]

Thanks.. Hijack off..

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Scottydog - Checkout this thread RE: CDS Fan

It is pretty easy to do.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/165504-possible-jdm-aux-c-fan-wiring-solution-2.html

 

[Bluetribal]

I may have come across a good deal on electrical fans. I just got off the phone with the guy and the fans in the photo on the CL Add are 16" High Performance Electrical Fans.
But he said he has (6) 12" electrical fans as well as some 6" fans that he has yet to post up.

So for $25 it seems like it may be a good deal, a little Home Depot engineering should get them mounted and some electrical wire from the parts store.

Here is the CL add
Spal Radiator fans CHEAP$$$$

And here is SPAL site
SPAL USA - The Industry Leader in High-Performance Automotive Parts and Accessories


Let me know what you guys think, he is located in Claremont and I will meet up with him Wednesday evening.

 

[calfj60]

Seems like a good deal.. Just make sure they fit where you want to use it.. I wanna say mine was smaller

 

[Bluetribal]

Yeah, I am thinking the 16" fans are way too big but the 12" might just work.

If this rain continues I won't have softball tomorrow evening and he said he could meet tomorrow evening so I guess I will find out then.

I will also have to find out if they are 12v or 24v and if they are pushers or pullers.

 

[calfj60]

Pusher or puller can be taken care of by the way it is wired...

 

[Bluetribal]

OK, so I am heading over to check out & test fit the fans in a couple of hours.
Here is the CL add
Spal Radiator fans CHEAP$$$$

And here is SPAL site
SPAL USA - The Industry Leader in High-Performance Automotive Parts and Accessories

If you are interested, PM me your cell and I will give you a call if they look good & work out for our Cruisers. Then you can let me know if I should pick one up for you so I don't have to make a second trip for these.

 

[SDTLC80]

OK, so I am heading over to check out & test fit the fans in a couple of hours.
Here is the CL add
Spal Radiator fans CHEAP$$$$

And here is SPAL site
SPAL USA - The Industry Leader in High-Performance Automotive Parts and Accessories

If you are interested, PM me your cell and I will give you a call if they look good & work out for our Cruisers. Then you can let me know if I should pick one up for you so I don't have to make a second trip for these.

Could you pick me up one if it fits the LC? PM sent Thanks!!!

 

[Bluetribal]

I replied to your PM.
so I picked one up but it's not a guarantee fit due to width. But I will test fit it tomorrow adternoon and report back. If it does fit this is a helluva deal at $25.
Here is the exact fan:
SPAL USA