Let's talk about electric fans

[WECole]

I've read several posts about replacing the stock radiator fan with electric fans (dual 16's seem to be recommended the most) and I'm curious to learn more about this mod. My understanding is sketchy but what I've gotten out of the discussions is that by replacing the mechanical fan you reduce drag in the engine, freeing up HP's - but although this mod can improve power, does it make any improvement to mileage?

I'm also curious as to what steps are actually involved in this mod - can someone give me a brief idea? (And for those who have already done it, do you think the cost was worth it?)

 

[toms89]

Electric fans can save fuel by the fact that they do not need to run while the vehicle is at speed or below operating temperature. The mechanical fan does have a thermostatic operated clutch but this does not completely free wheel and creates parasistic drag. The fact that the electric fan does not have to run often is where the fuel savings would come in. I believe it would be most effective with hwy mpg. If it was not for the fact that the factory fan creates a lot more cfm's of air flow the electric fan theoritically would be less efficient while in use due to the inherit loss of converting mechanical energy to electrical back to mechanical.

I replace my mechanical fan on my 89 mustang with an electric fan but for performance reasons only. It did improve its e.t. because fan was turned off but it did not cool nearly as effectively as the stock mechanical unit. Again this was on my mustang...the expy is much different.

 

[BakerEdition]

I have to agree with Tom and the aspect that when those fans kick on, you better have a strong alternator and when they kick on thats a drag on the alternator hence there goes MPG's, however they said when you use air conditioning that it decreases gas mileage and the myth was busted...in fact it DONT use anymore gas to run the A/C...so My thought is if you had a 200 amp alternator and it delivered the juice...this should be no different than the A/C compressor clicking on and off....your thoughts Tom?
This is a link to Troyer Performance...This is the way I want to go with cooling fans and a trans cooler...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251020404096?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi-bin/ppistore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=PPI-ATCKIT

 

[toms89]

I have to agree with Tom and the aspect that when those fans kick on, you better have a strong alternator and when they kick on thats a drag on the alternator hence there goes MPG's, however they said when you use air conditioning that it decreases gas mileage and the myth was busted...in fact it DONT use anymore gas to run the A/C...so My thought is if you had a 200 amp alternator and it delivered the juice...this should be no different than the A/C compressor clicking on and off....your thoughts Tom?
This is a link to Troyer Performance...This is the way I want to go with cooling fans and a trans cooler...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251020404096?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi-bin/ppistore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=PPI-ATCKIT

I think what you are refering to is a/c vs windows down. Mechanical drag vs aerodynamic drag... A/C does use up some hp but is the lesser of two evils?!

Most electric fans are far less cfms than stock mechanical fan and will likely require less hp due to this..even while running.

Don't know the expys alternator amperage capacity offhand but believe its well within its limits.

 

[boiler71]

I run a Flexalite electric fan setup in both my 03 F150 and our 04 Expy. The F150 setup should be the same for the Gen I Expys. For our Expy, we used the Flexalite 295 universal kit. It has dual 13.5" fans and I'll tell you, in the heat of Alabama and Florida, we haven't had a single issue with overheating.

With regard to the alternator, stock alt in an Expy is 130 amps. My F150 (dual 15" fans) is running a PA Performance 200 amp unit while the Expy is running the stock 130 amp unit. I haven't noticed a bit of difference between the two alternators as far as the fans are concerned.

Baker...you mentioned a tranny cooler, we are using a stock F250 cooler in our Expy and have noticed a significant decrease in tranny temps. We went from hovering at 210 degress down to 170. Here is a link to the writeup: http://www.lightningrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5004

 

[BakerEdition]

Is the superduty cooler larger? The one I was looking at from Troyer had a built on fan which I thought was good, but i was not sure of the mounting location of there product...I e-mailed them to ask for a package deal but never got a response...customer service sucks...on a 85 degree day traveling down the freeway what is a good temp for the trans to be??

 

[rburch]

Baker:
Here is the link to my SD trans cooler install also! I believe the SD cooler is more than enough cooling capacity for our needs. Everyone I talked to was around 170 trans temps and that is about where you want to be!
http://www.expeditionforum.com/showthread.php?t=15217&highlight=trans+cooler

Here is the cooler i bought. it is 7in high and 20in long so it is about 2.5 of the stock Expy coolers!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-F...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

 

[rburch]

Here is some interesting reading I think will answer any questions you may have Baker!

http://www.timskelton.com/lightning/race_prep/powertrain/tranny_mods.htm

 

[BakerEdition]

wow...this was good reading....burch you finally posted something worth looking at!!!! LMAO

 

[rburch]

Bwahahahahah! Thanks Baker!

 

[rburch]

From what i have read you can expect .5 to 1 mpg gain by running electric fans.

 

[BakerEdition]

Im not really looking for mpg boost, Im looking to keep it cooler....hey burch you going to bed early tonight just so tomorrow comes faster???? LOL

 

[rburch]

*****! I told my neighbor that at like 10 am!

 

[rburch]

Im not really looking for mpg boost, Im looking to keep it cooler....hey burch you going to bed early tonight just so tomorrow comes faster???? LOL

I was posting that for WECole! LOL!

You should do the SD cooler!

 

[BakerEdition]

I dont want to block my a/c condenser or radiator...figure I can mount on in the lower opening and with a fan attached to it, it should work just fine...

 

[rburch]

I installed mine so it would be ready when i did the trans and ran it for a month and didnt have any problems with temp or the ac!

 

[BakerEdition]

YEAH WAS PROBABLY THE INSTALLER...lmao

 

[rburch]

Your redonkulous!

 

[jdan]

Alright instead of starting a new thread I'm bringing this back to life.
Anybody have a link to a electric radiator fan that will pretty much replace the stock mechanical fan and work as good or better and pretty much bolt right in?
I want to get rid of the drag because I use this on the highway a lot and I really don't need a fan at 70 mph.
I want it gone for performance reasons and noise reduction since it makes a loud WWWWHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! first thing in the morning.

 

[timberwoof]

I was wondering if I were to go to a PickNPull, which vehicles could I look at for replacements of the fan.