Anyone using an add on electric cooling fan? I am thinking of adding a pusher fan for those time when I have to sit idle for long periods of time....anyone else using one for this purpose? I am running a Dodge Ramcharger .
Electric Fans
- Thread starter caleath
- Start date
Off-Road Ranger I
Member III
I have never done it and don't know much about its execution, really, but it might be valuable if you spend a lot if time idling in the heat!
Some vague considerations:
1) Engine-driven fans move a lot of air so make sure you arent actually restricting maximum airflow when the primary fan kicks on.
2) If it is switched, you might make it come on well before the engine-driven fan, rather than at the same time, or it might actually cause the primary fan to have to kick on more often than without (even if together they can bring it back down faster, it might get hotter more quickly with the unpowered fan blocking some airflow).
Maybe even make it manually switchable, and just leave it on any time you are doing a lot of slow-speed driving or idling in warmish weather.
Some vague considerations:
1) Engine-driven fans move a lot of air so make sure you arent actually restricting maximum airflow when the primary fan kicks on.
2) If it is switched, you might make it come on well before the engine-driven fan, rather than at the same time, or it might actually cause the primary fan to have to kick on more often than without (even if together they can bring it back down faster, it might get hotter more quickly with the unpowered fan blocking some airflow).
Maybe even make it manually switchable, and just leave it on any time you are doing a lot of slow-speed driving or idling in warmish weather.
Member III
I prefer engine driven, thermal clutch type fans that would have come on your Ramcharger equipped with factory A/C. They are designed to deal with idling in traffic with the A/C on and if you are not having cooling issues while doing this, you are simply adding another possible failure point to your vehicle. I would think that upgrading radiators to one from a 250 series truck to increase cooling capacity would provide a more meaningful increase in cooling than a fan upgrade for the same money. Also, spend the time and money to make sure the equipment that's there is in proper working order before you go adding band-aids to cover a problem with the system such as the radiator being clogged internally or the water pump veins being worn down reducing coolant flow.
Also, if the mechanical fan fails (shy of exploding) you can use bailing wire to tie it solid to the pulley so it runs all the time and get you off the trail instead of being stuck driving between overheats.
I like simplicity and adding extra equipment just bothers me if I'm not going to see a major increase in some performance with it. I don't think you'll notice any appreciable gain if you are not having heating troubles now and with a factory powered full size, there are a few other routes to try before adding more fans IMPO.
Also, if the mechanical fan fails (shy of exploding) you can use bailing wire to tie it solid to the pulley so it runs all the time and get you off the trail instead of being stuck driving between overheats.
I like simplicity and adding extra equipment just bothers me if I'm not going to see a major increase in some performance with it. I don't think you'll notice any appreciable gain if you are not having heating troubles now and with a factory powered full size, there are a few other routes to try before adding more fans IMPO.
I am not having overheating issues....looks like the radiator I have is already one for the 250-also..at least when I cross the number that I bought. It was just a mind exercise.
