Clutch fan removed

[lotzagoodstuff]

So I pulled my clutch fan last night and the phone rang so I decided to put off changing my water pump (after all now I can actually see if it's leaking or not) put it back together and drove it to meet a buddy at my local watering hole.

Today I drove around while monitoring the temp gage very closely, and I've got to say: I am shocked at how robust the cooling system is. Keep in mind that it was only mid 50s and kind of rainy today, and I didn't have a load on my truck, and my radiator was brand new when I got my truck 5 years ago and it's definitely 100%, but even in light to light traffic the gage never got much into the "R" on NORMAL. Yes, I know how crappy the factory temp gage is, but before it pretty much went to "O" and stayed there. With the cooler winter months coming, and not forseeing any big hauling in the near future, I am going to leave it like this for at least a little while (at least long enough to verify my super slow coolant leak)

The other thing I noticed is that there was definitely some found power after removing the fan, and it seems to idle a little bit nicer, although I have no real way to verify that fact. I will say this: there's no way that clutch fan is going back on my truck. I've always wanted electric fans and this was all the verification I needed to push me to do it.

 

[BrandonMag]

The other thing I noticed is that there was definitely some found power after removing the fan, and it seems to idle a little bit nicer, although I have no real way to verify that fact.

Since that's the case, I may end doing an electric fan mod as well.

Just what I need! Another project for the F250!

 

[93cc7.3]

i did the same thing and have never looked back either

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

power kept is as good as power gained.
electric fan conversion is my future as well.

 

[93cc7.3]

i also pushed around the hairbrained idea of taking a page from drag racers and their electric water pump motor. the style where you use the stock pump but a belt with teeth like a timing belt and a electric motor to turn it.

i thought about this for the ac pump and only have the motor come on when ac clutch energizes. i dont think it would be good for 100% duty like the water pump but i think it would be safe for ac idk crazy probably

 

[fury9]

If I was/had to do that you better believe the heater would be on high.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

If I was/had to do that you better believe the heater would be on high.

That's exactly what I was thinking all day, but after about 30 minutes of light to light traffic, I actually turned the a/c on high and it still barely crept into the "R" in Normal. Again, I am very shocked at the ability of the IDI's cooling system.

 

[gonecrazyi]

These motors don't seem to get all that hot ust cruising around empty. My last motor had a bad t stat and it would never put out heat even cruising the highway with an overloaded trailer.

 

[Double-S-Diesel]

ran my old psds with out a fan even in the summer

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

iv been hauling heavy all summer without a working fan clutch(2-3 ton max.)
real temp gauge read 215-220 once i flushed coolant /new thermostat/hoses/cap (before that i was seeing 230-235 degree temps.didn't know it was that warm as stock gauge read N in normal.)
80/90 degree days.

i figure doing this will only make things cooler lol.
http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?t=17484

 

[franklin2]

Electric fans-been there done that.

1. You will have to get the super duper fans from the late model Ford vehicles people talk about. Regular aftermarket electric fans do not pull enough air.

2. Since you need the high cfm fans, you will need a bigger alternator. I had the aftermarket fans which pulled 20 amps each, and with the A/C on, vent fan on high, and headlights on, I was definitely using everything the stock alternator had.

3. When you install the fans, besides the fabbing it takes to mount them, don't forget the wiring that will be involved. The high cfm fans will require a relay each, and I used a thermostatic switch mounted in the heater hose. You will also have to tie at least one of the relays to the A/C compressor clutch feed wire with a inline diode, since you have to have airflow through the condensor when the A/C is on and you are sitting in traffic(found this out the hard way).

New larger wiring from the battery to two new circuit breakers, relays, and new wiring from the larger alternator, it becomes a much larger project than you would think at first. I was thinking about getting a 130 alt and installing it along with the better fans, but I start thinking about what if I lose a belt or the alternator fails while hauling a load. I am dead in the water. I also didn't like the idea of plowing snow with the defrost on(defrost=A/C on so electric fans will be running) vent fan on high, headlights on, and trying to pick the plow up at the same time. That's why I pulled the whole electric fan thing out and went to a locked factory fan.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

I am planning on running the Lincoln Mark VIII fan, maybe even just a single one to start with as it's a two speed design and I might play with the low and high speeds to see what sufficient for my light duty application. I've read that the Mark VIII fans draw 33 amps on high speed, which gets to be an aweful lot when considering two of them, but an alternator upgrade isn't that big of a deal on an IDI.

Bottom line is that I don't need that giant power robbing/fuel mileage scavenging fan for my application, so I'm gonna do something about it

 

[HammerDown]

Electric fans-been there done that.

1. You will have to get the super duper fans from the late model Ford vehicles people talk about. Regular aftermarket electric fans do not pull enough air.

2. Since you need the high cfm fans, you will need a bigger alternator. I had the aftermarket fans which pulled 20 amps each, and with the A/C on, vent fan on high, and headlights on, I was definitely using everything the stock alternator had.

3. When you install the fans, besides the fabbing it takes to mount them, don't forget the wiring that will be involved. The high cfm fans will require a relay each, and I used a thermostatic switch mounted in the heater hose. You will also have to tie at least one of the relays to the A/C compressor clutch feed wire with a inline diode, since you have to have airflow through the condensor when the A/C is on and you are sitting in traffic(found this out the hard way).

New larger wiring from the battery to two new circuit breakers, relays, and new wiring from the larger alternator, it becomes a much larger project than you would think at first. I was thinking about getting a 130 alt and installing it along with the better fans, but I start thinking about what if I lose a belt or the alternator fails while hauling a load. I am dead in the water. I also didn't like the idea of plowing snow with the defrost on(defrost=A/C on so electric fans will be running) vent fan on high, headlights on, and trying to pick the plow up at the same time. That's why I pulled the whole electric fan thing out and went to a locked factory fan.

GOOD GRIEF! After all that above > I'll just leave well enough alone as in STOCK!
If it ain't broke...don't try to break it

 

[franklin2]

The clutch fans on these trucks are a problem. I can see why electric fans are considered after you keep spending all that money for new clutches that just keep failing.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

That's why I pulled the whole electric fan thing out and went to a locked factory fan.

Ha! Ha, ha, and ha! So me and Midnight Rider are not the only ones running locked factory fans after all Does yours like to slip on the belts when you revv up?