Original fan clutch maintenance

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KliersLC

KliersLC

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So I have been reading all the fan clutch threads, but didn't find anything about adjusting the timing or replacing the oil on the original fan clutch.

Mine works fine at present, but I will be doing some PM next week, and thought maybe I could improve the fan performance a little....

Any advice?
Thanks,
Dan
 
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Thanks LT, I'll go ahead and do that. Should I use the thicker fluid for the stock clutch, or just stick with the 3000?

Anybody else?
 
The original fan clutch can have the fluid upgraded, replaced. Check the bearing for play, the seals for leakage and the thermostat for rust, if it looks good drain and replace the fluid.

The blue hub is a much improved design. If it were my truck, I would order a new blue hub and a tube of 10,000 fluid, squirt the new tube into the clutch and install.
 
Tools R Us said:
The original fan clutch can have the fluid upgraded, replaced. Check the bearing for play, the seals for leakage and the thermostat for rust, if it looks good drain and replace the fluid.

The blue hub is a much improved design. If it were my truck, I would order a new blue hub and a tube of 10,000 fluid, squirt the new tube into the clutch and install.
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I thought about getting the blue hub, but I don't tow, and an Aux fan will be installed next week, so it seems kind like over kill....

Also, Idaho doesn't get that hot, but I am planning a highspeed trip through Nevada this summer, and wanted to avoid any problems.

Hmm...maybe for another thread, but will the Aux fan suffice under normal driving if the fan clutch goes down?
 
landtank said:
I personally don't see the need for an aux fan if the blue clutch is modded. Why get complicated with another cooling system.
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Agree, sold my electric fan.
 
landtank said:
I personally don't see the need for an aux fan if the blue clutch is modded. Why get complicated with another cooling system.
Click to expand...

Well, we will be moving to VA next spring, and I want to keep the :princess: happy with cold AC while she is sitting in traffic.....

Also, I want to make for darn sure that I don't EVER overheat this rig....
 
KliersLC said:
Well, we will be moving to VA next spring, and I want to keep the :princess: happy with cold AC while she is sitting in traffic.....

Also, I want to make for darn sure that I don't EVER overheat this rig....
Click to expand...

CDan has an aux fan on his truck to help with high operating temps. Last year after modding his fan clutch he did a series of tests which showed that the aux fan made no difference in operating temps when turned on.
 
landtank said:
CDan has an aux fan on his truck to help with high operating temps. Last year after modding his fan clutch he did a series of tests which showed that the aux fan made no difference in operating temps when turned on.
Click to expand...

Did it help the AC temps though?
 
KliersLC said:
Did it help the AC temps though?
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There was a thread all about the condensor fan- subject was something like "hotter than hell in texas" IIRC if you want to try searching for it. I installed an aftermarket condensor fan and it has made a *very* noticeable difference in idle A/C temps, esp. when it is very hot outside. I have an aux. temp gauge, as well, and I have not seen any cooling system improvement from the fan.
 
alaskacruiser said:
There was a thread all about the condensor fan- subject was something like "hotter than hell in texas" IIRC if you want to try searching for it. I installed an aftermarket condensor fan and it has made a *very* noticeable difference in idle A/C temps, esp. when it is very hot outside. I have an aux. temp gauge, as well, and I have not seen any cooling system improvement from the fan.
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Yeah I read that thread, and that is the reason that I want to install one, but Rick and Kevin seemed to be implying that the AUX fan was unneccesary if you have the modded blue fan. I was curious if the modded blue fan would affect AC temps as much as the Aux fan does..
 
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We installed a 14" electric on brother Rob's rig, works well, nice drop in vent temps. Bought 2 fans one was for my rig, but did the blue hub fluid upgrade to 10K cst first on mine. It absolutely blows his away, much more airflow, it's so much better that I sold my fan! We will upgrade his fluid before summer and will probably leave the electric in place, it's already there and working.

The electric pushes air only in the area that the fan covers. The upgraded clutch working with the shroud provides great, even airflow over the entire condenser, making for a better overall effect.
 
My stock clutch makes the fan pull more air than the electric already, but I was concerned about high humidity traffic driving. I know that the stock clutch works fine, but in traffic, my vent temps go up. It seems like the Aux fan would give a similar effect as driving down the road. More airflow can't be bad, and if I decide to tow with it, I'll have that safety net just in case.
 
When Dan did his test it was idling with the hood shut. The only way he could get the temps down was to open the hood. This tells me that the fan was moving so much air that it was pressurizing the engine compartment and restricting any more flow. If a fan driven by a 212hp engine can't force any more air through the engine bay I honestly don't see some 12vdc fan making a difference.

But hey, it's your truck and you want to do it, go right ahead. I would mod the fan clutch as well.
 
Tools R Us said:
The blue hub is a much improved design. If it were my truck, I would order a new blue hub and a tube of 10,000 fluid, squirt the new tube into the clutch and install.
Click to expand...

Can one order the 10,000 cst oil through Dan and can he ship it? If not, is there a reliable source?
 
landtank said:
When Dan did his test it was idling with the hood shut. The only way he could get the temps down was to open the hood. This tells me that the fan was moving so much air that it was pressurizing the engine compartment and restricting any more flow. If a fan driven by a 212hp engine can't force any more air through the engine bay I honestly don't see some 12vdc fan making a difference.

But hey, it's your truck and you want to do it, go right ahead. I would mod the fan clutch as well.
Click to expand...

But the SC trucks are a whole different deal, something about the fan size, spacing, etc, badly messes up their flow, seriously reducing their efficiency. I have never seen a SC truck pull near the air of a stock truck with upgraded clutch and have played with them that have $$$ radiators, killer clutches, custom shrouds, different fans, electric fans, etc.
 
landtank said:
When Dan did his test it was idling with the hood shut. The only way he could get the temps down was to open the hood. This tells me that the fan was moving so much air that it was pressurizing the engine compartment and restricting any more flow. If a fan driven by a 212hp engine can't force any more air through the engine bay I honestly don't see some 12vdc fan making a difference.

But hey, it's your truck and you want to do it, go right ahead. I would mod the fan clutch as well.
Click to expand...

I have the Shaman's blessing for my original clutch, so it will be staying in there until he decides to sell me a blue one, and besides, I need something to do this week, and maybe I can pull some data off it to help others....
 
Tools R Us said:
But the SC trucks are a whole different deal, something about the fan size, spacing, etc, badly messes up their flow, seriously reducing their efficiency. I have never seen a SC truck pull near the air of a stock truck with upgraded clutch and have played with them that have $$$ radiators, killer clutches, custom shrouds, different fans, electric fans, etc.
Click to expand...

And even with their diminished ability the aux fan made no difference.
 
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