Electric Cooling Fans…Comments?
Question:
Check out this link… http://www.4×4central.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/000107.html | Question: | | Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of the | factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the Flex-a-Lite | 175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the Explorer). Of course they claim | that you gain 17Hp from installing this unit (I suspect it is closer to | 5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid of that annoying fan blowing sound that I | have lived with for the last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going | out, so it may need replacement anyways….. | | Specs of Flex-a-lite 175: | 2200 CFM | 13.5A current (162 watt =~.25Hp approx load to alternator.) | http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/ford.htm | | — | Paul O’Gorman | 93 Exp Sport 4×4 | 97 Neon SOHC | | | |
Response:
www.jegs.com and www.summitracing.com both have the Flex-a-lite 175 for about $190 Paul O’Gorman 93 Exp Sport 4×4 97 Neon SOHC
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Did the site list the cost of the electric fans?
Response:
Other than a slight increase in power, I want that whoosh sound gone….. Paul O’Gorman 93 Exp Sport 4×4 97 Neon SOHC
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well the only problem I ever had with one of my Fords dealt with an electric > fan not kicking on because of some electronic problem. So with that plague > in my past (it went back and forth with the shop to get fixed) I perfer the > belt driven ones. If you want more power I would recommend changing to some > underdrive pulleys. You’ll get horse power that you’ll notice. My 97 > appears to have a steel fan (not plastic) so cracking isn’t an issue.
Response:
>Question: >Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of the >factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the Flex-a-Lite >175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the Explorer). Of course they claim >that you gain 17Hp from installing this unit (I suspect it is closer to >5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid of that annoying fan blowing sound that I >have lived with for the last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going >out, so it may need replacement anyways….. >Specs of Flex-a-lite 175: >2200 CFM >13.5A current (162 watt =~.25Hp approx load to alternator.) >http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/ford.htm
Actually, a standard 4 blade steel fan pulls 15HP at highway speed. Standard on old cars that is. I run electrics on most of my big trucks, ‘79 Dodge W1504×4, 87 Dodge Ramcharger 4×4, 85 Dodge B200 van, ‘90 dodge W150 4×4 and a humoungous 478 CID GMC V6 wrecker. Onliest critter I haven’t put one on yet is the ‘91 Exploder. Gotta do that one someday… LCM
Response:
Well the only problem I ever had with one of my Fords dealt with an electric fan not kicking on because of some electronic problem. So with that plague in my past (it went back and forth with the shop to get fixed) I perfer the belt driven ones. If you want more power I would recommend changing to some underdrive pulleys. You’ll get horse power that you’ll notice. My 97 appears to have a steel fan (not plastic) so cracking isn’t an issue. Jason. Question: Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of the factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the Flex-a-Lite 175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the Explorer). Of course they claim that you gain 17Hp from installing this unit (I suspect it is closer to 5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid of that annoying fan blowing sound that I have lived with for the last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going out, so it may need replacement anyways….. Specs of Flex-a-lite 175: 2200 CFM 13.5A current (162 watt =~.25Hp approx load to alternator.) http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/ford.htm — Paul O’Gorman 93 Exp Sport 4×4 97 Neon SOHC
Response:
Question: Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of the factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the Flex-a-Lite 175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the Explorer). Of course they claim that you gain 17Hp from installing this unit (I suspect it is closer to 5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid of that annoying fan blowing sound that I have lived with for the last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going out, so it may need replacement anyways….. Specs of Flex-a-lite 175: 2200 CFM 13.5A current (162 watt =~.25Hp approx load to alternator.) http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/ford.htm — Paul O’Gorman 93 Exp Sport 4×4 97 Neon SOHC
Response:
I am contemplating the same thing for my ‘93. In fact, my plastic fan blade has some splits in it. Look at yours carefully between each blade. I’d hate for one of those blades to break off and shread the radiator. Did the site list the cost of the electric fans? Tom Trezek – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Question: > Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of the > factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the Flex-a-Lite > 175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the Explorer). Of course they claim > that you gain 17Hp from installing this unit (I suspect it is closer to > 5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid of that annoying fan blowing sound that I > have lived with for the last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going > out, so it may need replacement anyways….. > Specs of Flex-a-lite 175: > 2200 CFM > 13.5A current (162 watt =~.25Hp approx load to alternator.) > http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/ford.htm > — > Paul O’Gorman > 93 Exp Sport 4×4 > 97 Neon SOHC
Response:
> Has anyone installed an aftermarket electric cooling fan in place of > the factory hydro-clutch driven plastic unit? I was looking at the > Flex-a-Lite 175 (which per thier matrix is a fit on the > Explorer). Of course they claim that you gain 17Hp from installing > this unit (I suspect it is closer to 5Hp). Mostly I want to get rid > of that annoying fan blowing sound that I have lived with for the > last 6 years. Also I think that the clutch is going out, so it may > need replacement anyways…..
Look through the www.4×4central.com’s message boards. If I remember correctly, the consensus was that the electric fans (Flex-a-Lites) don’t work as well as the hydo-clutch driven unit. The engine runs hotter than before… — | suki | "Hell, if you understand everything I say, | | Tasuki Hirata | you’d be me." – Miles Davis |
