2015 Expedition with Very Loud Fan

[2015owner2015]

Whenever the outside temperature reaches 90+ the fan blows very loudly. It is noticeable when inside the vehicle but outside it almost sounds more like a jet idling then an expedition.

Is this normal or is it a known issue?

Thanks!

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Whenever the outside temperature reaches 90+ the fan blows very loudly. It is noticeable when inside the vehicle but outside it almost sounds more like a jet idling then an expedition.

Is this normal or is it a known issue?

Thanks!

I have a 17 and I have the same issue. (It's not an issue, it's the way it works) When the temp is around 95 deg F the radiator cooling fan kicks into high speed and really makes a racket but it only lasts a short time and I only really notice it when I'm going slow or stopped. Once I start moving above 35 MPH it slows down or cuts off. I can't tell.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Whenever the outside temperature reaches 90+ the fan blows very loudly. It is noticeable when inside the vehicle but outside it almost sounds more like a jet idling then an expedition.

Is this normal or is it a known issue?

Thanks!

I have a 2015 Expediton Limited 4x4, purchased new.

Last year, when the temperature was about 95 degrees with high humidity, the cooling fans began to roar on mine. It did not do it during the summer of 2015. The vehicle is used strictly for passenger use - no towing or hauling heavy cargo.

I was so concerned (I even had people comment about the excessive noise while getting gas with the engine running) that I took it back to the selling dealer service department.

I was told the noise was normal during very high ambient temperatures (no mention in the owner's manual....). The service department did say there was a TSB to update the HVAC system, so that was done.

This year, the vehicle continues to make the loud roaring noise when the ambient temperature exceeds about 90 degree F. I suspect the vehicle's computer is programmed to turn on the fans for an "extra high / fast" setting during certain times. I have never owned a motor vehicle with electric fans that are as loud as my Expediton when the temperature is hot.

 

[bobmbx]

I have a 17 and I have the same issue. (It's not an issue, it's the way it works) When the temp is around 95 deg F the radiator cooling fan kicks into high speed and really makes a racket but it only lasts a short time and I only really notice it when I'm going slow or stopped. Once I start moving above 35 MPH it slows down or cuts off. I can't tell.

They turn off as the air moving across the radiator from your forward motion takes over for the fan. Long gone are the days of belt/crankshaft fans. With high ambient temps, the radiator doesn't do anything helpful without airflow, so the fans are programmed to 'scream' until the environment under the hood changes to a normal running mode.

Add in the tranny cooling, the AC condensor (some with two evaporators....rear cooling), the PS cooler, aux tranny and oil coolers (especially now with turbo and twin turbos), and you've got a nasty heat load building in the engine.

As long as the temp stays normal on the dash, I don't care what the fans sound like. Just turn up the radio.

 

[1955moose]

Well look at the bright side, you only hear the racket, and don't feel the heat making it's way into the cabin. Ever drive an ac cobra with a 427 side oiler motor on a hot day? Not fun. I used to have a Yamaha vmax back in the early 90's, that used to run right at the edge of the temp guage on warm days, in stop and go traffic. The fan kept kicking on, blowing all that heat towards me. Again not fun on a 90 degree plus day. Remember in engines and electronics, heat is the enemy! A little noise on a hot day is a trade off for a truck that makes it to 300k.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

They turn off as the air moving across the radiator from your forward motion takes over for the fan. Long gone are the days of belt/crankshaft fans. With high ambient temps, the radiator doesn't do anything helpful without airflow, so the fans are programmed to 'scream' until the environment under the hood changes to a normal running mode.

Add in the tranny cooling, the AC condensor (some with two evaporators....rear cooling), the PS cooler, aux tranny and oil coolers (especially now with turbo and twin turbos), and you've got a nasty heat load building in the engine.

As long as the temp stays normal on the dash, I don't care what the fans sound like. Just turn up the radio.

Bob, I'm the same way it's normal and I really don't have an issue with it I was just trying to convey that what the OP was describing was normal.

 

[2015owner2015]

Interestingly I also have a 2011 F150 3.5 ecoboost that does not do this. Must be specific to the Expedition.

 

[Qatarguy]

2011 Expedition. Same problem- Very loud fan noise. Very noticeable for me because during the summer, its over 100 most days out in this part of the world. Not a problem during the cooler days when it is either off or perhaps running at low speed

 

[MADEXP]

Dang, above 90 degrees here in Virginia = loud fan. Didn't notice until a few days ago...

 

[JExpedition07]

Cooling fan on my 2007 5.4L is roaring today at idle with the high heat, totally normal.

 

[Black]

Mine is crazy loud too.
We’ve been running around 100+ with the heat index.

 

[DF5.4]

The 5.4 has an engine driven fan with a clutch on it. When it is cooler out the clutch allows the fan to spin (somewhat) freely. On a cool day with the engine off reach in and move the fan. It should move fairly free. As the clutch gets warmer it "grabs" the fan and spins it. The Ecoboost engines use dual electric fans that come on as needed. Usually they are setup to run one fan when the AC is turned on and both when the radiator needs it.

 

[JExpedition07]

The 5.4 has an engine driven fan with a clutch on it. When it is cooler out the clutch allows the fan to spin (somewhat) freely. On a cool day with the engine off reach in and move the fan. It should move fairly free. As the clutch gets warmer it "grabs" the fan and spins it. The Ecoboost engines use dual electric fans that come on as needed. Usually they are setup to run one fan when the AC is turned on and both when the radiator needs it.

Depends on the year 5.4, mine is clutch some are electric.

 

[coolzzy]

I think the 5.4 moved to efans in 10 just like the F150 with same motor. My F150 never made as much fan noise as my ecoboost but I don't recall if the F150 had a single large fan or two smaller ones. Yesterday it was 102 and those electric fans were roaring loud enough to be heard over the blower and radio in the Expy when at idle. Once you get moving they scale down and you can't hear it anymore. Remember the ecoboost motor and its turbos generate quite a bit of heat especially under load so the fans are designed to compensate. When the computer demands full speed fan due to outside temp and AC being on, it really moves some air.

 

[Bigbadbull]

Having done a 1000 mile road trip the past 4th holiday in the south east US, My 3.5 EB fans were roaring this past weekend. I have had a water pump replaced last fall(@18K due to a leak) so Im a bit concerned. Hearing that every one else seems to have the same thing at 90 Deg + puts me a bit more at ease.
What transmission temps are every one seeing? Mine tend to hover in the 197-201Deg F range with just passenger driving.

 

[coyote-dogfish]

This is the first summer for our 16 EB, and the number of times people have asked what the hell is wrong our car due to the loud fan is insane. I have to get a decibel reading...to me it's totally ridiculous and I hate it. And before I get torched for saying that, I have a 700+HP SC 13 Mustang that has Kooks long tubes and full off road exhaust - it's nascar loud. You can hear it coming from 2 miles away. I have a HC slim fan for cooling on it, which most consider too loud, but it's maybe 30% of the noise this thing makes. The expy is just our family hauler/trip vehicle and we'll be sitting in a parking lot (at kids' activities or whatever) trying to talk to people outside the car 20 ft away and we have to shut it off because it's so loud... and the duty cycle is fairly low, so it cycles on and off constantly. It starts running like this @ much less than 90deg BTW - more like anything above 75degF. Turning off the AC makes no difference. Is there any option for aftermarket fans that move equivalent air but half the sones??? IDK, for my home I've found fans that move 3 times the air at 1/4 the sones... just wondering if something like that exists for this vehicle?

 

[JExpedition07]

This is the first summer for our 16 EB, and the number of times people have asked what the hell is wrong our car due to the loud fan is insane. I have to get a decibel reading...to me it's totally ridiculous and I hate it. And before I get torched for saying that, I have a 700+HP SC 13 Mustang that has Kooks long tubes and full off road exhaust - it's nascar loud. You can hear it coming from 2 miles away. I have a HC slim fan for cooling on it, which most consider too loud, but it's maybe 30% of the noise this thing makes. The expy is just our family hauler/trip vehicle and we'll be sitting in a parking lot (at kids' activities or whatever) trying to talk to people outside the car 20 ft away and we have to shut it off because it's so loud... and the duty cycle is fairly low, so it cycles on and off constantly. It starts running like this @ much less than 90deg BTW - more like anything above 75degF. Turning off the AC makes no difference. Is there any option for aftermarket fans that move equivalent air but half the sones??? IDK, for my home I've found fans that move 3 times the air at 1/4 the sones... just wondering if something like that exists for this vehicle?

I’m surprised turning off A/C makes no difference for you....Many share your feelings in the F-150 crowd, it’s not just an EcoBoost thing. Ever hear a Super Duty with the 6.2L? That is a clutch driven fan and it sounds like an airplane taking off from the stoplight.

 

[jkayca]

Loud roaring sound from the fans is normal. Now a rattling sound, that's different.

 

[jrc50]

Good discussion. In the horrid South Alabama heat and humidity my 2017 Limited was very loud in idle at times, had not gotten around to investigating yet, even my wife commented and she does not normally notice such things. Glad to know it was designed the way it is. Just left Mobile, Al. area and am at 5500' elevation in Banner Elk, NC, temps this am 56 degrees and rain versus 81, humid at home! Nice...

 

[coolzzy]

Having done a 1000 mile road trip the past 4th holiday in the south east US, My 3.5 EB fans were roaring this past weekend. I have had a water pump replaced last fall(@18K due to a leak) so Im a bit concerned. Hearing that every one else seems to have the same thing at 90 Deg + puts me a bit more at ease.
What transmission temps are every one seeing? Mine tend to hover in the 197-201Deg F range with just passenger driving.

Transmission temps should be in the 195-210 range depending on load, towing or not. The transmission was designed to run in this range and has a thermostat that prevents fluid from going to the transmission cooler until around 190.