Electric fans

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 8:45 pm

Anybody convert to eletric radiator fan? Pros, cons? Thanks. And where to get one? I know summit had one in the new magazine that came in. Looks nice.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 9:09 pm

Only think I can think of is that the 4.3 tends to run a little warm naturally, so you will need some pretty strong fans.

I thought Brule had done it on his truck...but looking at his website I don't see it.

I know one pro would be that it would free up the motor of a little horspower used to turn the fan -- it helps smaller cars a lot since smaller displacement motors waste a lot of energy trying to turn accessories.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 9:24 pm

I think it was Steven that used fans.

Pros- frees up HP and adds some off the line throttle response, You have the option to manually engage them to anticipate heating situations, may move more air when parked and idling, can be turned off when encountering deep water, may help with fuel mileage?

Cons- Will never move as much air as the crank driven fan, more parts to fail, will require upgrading the alternator, may not be able to keep up with demands of AC in a hot climate, noisy.

Personally the stock clutch fan works fine, and there is no way that electric fans would keep the engine cool in this desert climate, even with the larger radiator. The free'd HP would be nice, but I'd rather keep things cool

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:19 pm

My stock clutch fan doesn't work worth a poo here in Phoenix in the summer. More than about 45 seconds at a stop light, and the temp is rising well above 210. Even cruising down the freeway at 80 mph it's still sitting at or slightly above 210.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:28 pm

AZS10Crew wrote:My stock clutch fan doesn't work worth a poo here in Phoenix in the summer. More than about 45 seconds at a stop light, and the temp is rising well above 210. Even cruising down the freeway at 80 mph it's still sitting at or slightly above 210.

If it doesn't cool down at highway speeds it is not the amount of air that is the problem, it is the radiators inability to transfer enough heat to the air.
I had the same problems, so I went to the larger radiator

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 11:11 pm

HenryJ wrote:
AZS10Crew wrote:My stock clutch fan doesn't work worth a poo here in Phoenix in the summer. More than about 45 seconds at a stop light, and the temp is rising well above 210. Even cruising down the freeway at 80 mph it's still sitting at or slightly above 210.
If it doesn't cool down at highway speeds it is not the amount of air that is the problem, it is the radiators inability to transfer enough heat to the air.
I had the same problems, so I went to the larger radiator

Good point. I forgot for a second that our radiators suck.

Bad_Ass_S10 · Post by **Bad_Ass_S10** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 12:02 am

I dont have electric fan on my s10 but am running 2 electric fans on my full-size that has a 350 built and runs just fine although i am using the biggest rad. that gm offers but i need the it - i have a race car engine in my truck but with a few differences - i built it for power and lots of torque, not for speed, and personally I think that florida heat is just as bad as the desert, its freaking hot and muggy here, but must say that with 2 fans and a big rad. I never worry about overheating and my fans are temp controlled - 1 will turn on with the ignition and the other when temps exceed 195 but running down highway my truck runs about 150 -160 - and with the s10's do allot of you have the lower degree t-stat or running stock which is 195, I know that our trucks are suppose to run that warm but the cooler the engine the more fuel it gets which inturns gives more HP