Fan clutch versus electric fans

I have an 03 silverado, 4.8 V8( just got the 36, ooo mile service done by the way) I drive in hot weather (100-115) very frequently, and notice if I'm in traffic and with the a/c on very low ( dial 1-2) the engine starts to heat up ,I know its kind of normal, but it heats up very quickly, which brings me to wonder why other cars beside me can go on driving like nothing, for an example, a 04/05 ford f-150 truck was beside me and dude was comfortable with his a/c on, mean while I had to turn my windows down and submit to the heat and the ford , so I figure since my truck has a fan clutch and not electric fans(which seem to work better in hot traffic), if it is possible for me to put some electric fans on my truck and if so is it very diffulcult to do so and are they any risk of ruining my warranty(extended), but considering that the new 05/06 silverado/sierras have them, so getting them I think wont be a problem

Reply to
jmex
Loading thread data ...

Our 98 Tahoe 6.5TD has the stock serpentine belt driven clutch with HD 20" metal fan blades that is rated to move over 10,000 or so cfm. Worked fine during these just past hot Northeast summer days.

I've been searching for a dual electric fan/shroud setup but the max I can find (if the spec is advertised at all) is only 7,000 cfm. Will 3,000 cfm make a difference? I think so because of the a/c condenser, engine oil cooler and tranny oil cooler sitting in front of the radiator.

Some clutch/fan blade setups work poorly during idling conditions (stop and go traffic) causing engines to overheat or come close to it. Other setups work well during idling conditions (like ours) but at the expense of fuel efficiency. You may want to consider extreme duty clutch/fan setups that use very aggressive metal blades.

You should also check your fan shroud to make sure there is little or no "leakage" -- you want the fan blades to draw in air through the radiator and not into holes or gaps behind the radiator. How much clearance betweent the blades and the shroud? You may want to consider a larger diameter fan blade but also consider the pitching motion of the engine -- the blade may scrape the shroud. Make sure that no more than half of the blade's cross-section is outside the shroud.

Good luck. Franko

service done

frequently, and

dial 1-2) the

it heats up

beside me can go

f-150 truck was

while I had to

so I figure

fans(which seem to

put some

to do so and

considering

them I think

Reply to
Franko

IF your truck overheats in traffic, it is a possible indication that there is a problem with your engine. Use that extended warranty and have them check it out. I suspect a problem in the cooling system. Or even a bad fad clutch.

Eightupman

Reply to
Eightupman

Make sure there isn't a bunch of debris built up between the radiator and ac condenser especially if you park under trees. And not wanting to make any assumptions here, you have checked the coolant level in the radiator itself haven't you? Also is the engine idling at the correct rpm?

Whitelightning

Reply to
Whitelightning

Actually you will find that it can move a lot more than 10,000 CFM at max effort with it likely peaking out at between 20 and 30 thousand CFM with a good engine driven fan and beable to handle a bit of backpressure too. Electric fans are power limited in a car the to deleiver a true 10,000 CFM plus with the restrictions in the core path and backpressure in engine compartment (those electric are rated in free air not installed) it would tkae atleast 150 to 200 amps or more to power the motor and your trucks electric system cannot handle that kind of load and that is why they do no exist in the after market. 40 amps or so is the cut off for electrically drive fans and you can only move so much air with that amount of current on 12 volts.

Reply to
SnoMan

Yes, I'd readily believe that. Still, I kind of like the idea of "free" horsepower/torque/increased mileage. I may end up relocating the tranny and engine oil coolers to beneath/behind the front bumper, move the radiator back three inches and install pusher/puller fans for cooling the radiator; also install a higher output alternator. Winter project, then closely monitor temps as the weather warms up again. Heck, I may just cut a hole in the hood and install that induction scoop to help vent the heat.

Franko

past

but

think

10,000 CFM at

thousand

bit of

the to

the core path

rated in

amps or more

handle that

market. 40

you can only

standards

formatting link
Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Reportabuse:
formatting link

Reply to
Franko

Have your fan clutch checked.This is one of the ways a bad clutch problem will show.

And make sure threes no debris in the radiator.

Reply to
D-farr

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.