Electric Radiator Fans

Who knows about using an electric radiator fan to cool a Jeep engine?

I have an electric radiator fan I took off of a 1991 Buick LaSabre a couple years back--- I gave it 12 volts and it moves air-- that is it blows more than I thought.

How well do these fans cool a Buick V6 with a radiator previously used to cool a dauntless?

Will these electric fans cool the engine if used alone?

I have seen some pics of Jeeps with these fans mounted between the dash and the radiator--- what is this kind of set-up for ( extra fan or primary fan?)

 

I have the Hayden fan you can get at any auto parts on my dauntless... I don't know how much it helps that I am using the L134 radiator though... cools my jeep plenty.

 

I haven't used an electric fan on my rig yet. But from the information I've read I think the fan you have will work fine.

There are so many variables such as the condition of the radiator that make a big difference - the fan is just one pc of the puzzle.

 

I have a GM TBI 4.3 in a Jeepster with the Dauntless radiator, and an electric fan from a Dodge V6 car. Works fine.

Paul

 

I'm running a Chevy V-6 with a three row radiator. I have two 12" electric fans without a fan on the motor. It cools so well the fans never come when on the road. The only time they come on is on the trail. Even in the hottiest of weather. While running really slow and minimual air flow through the grill. It work really good. My fans have a thermal switch that mounts in the intake and runs through a relay. The fans come on a 210 degrees and shut off at 195 degrees. I couldn't be happier. Here is my set up.


http://groups.msn.com/ScottMilliner/fanshroud.msnw?albumlist=2


http://groups.msn.com/ScottMilliner/scottsjeeppictures.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=254

http://groups.msn.com/ScottMilliner/scottsjeeppictures.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=430

 

I’m running dual 16” Flex-lite fans with a four core severe duty radiator and can run cooler idling around back in the woods than it does going down the highway.
I’m also using an adjustable thermostat, wired through a relay, to turn the fans on and had to adjust it up so that the coolant thermostat would stay open.

 

Humm thanks dudes--

My CJ6 is almost ready to get licensed after a 4 year frame-up renovation.

I mounted a two row radiator that in theory should be enough to cool a Buick V6--- it was in a Chevy Malibu that had a Chevy 4.3 V6. It just fits between the frame. However, I have heard that the later Buick V6 odd-fires (231s) are harder to cool than the original 225s---- and even harder to cool than a 4.3 liter Chevy V6. I guess it is just a try-it and see situation!?

However if I move the shock mounts behind the front axle ( like later Jeeps) I could fit a Chevy 3/4 ton truck radiator that cooled a 350 V8 that is 33 inches wide-- and still get it under the hood. This radiator would span over the top of the frame rails on both sides. It would fit because the Jeep has a 2" inch body lift. Its is a four row radiator-- and could cool a 454 big block under good conditions. Might be over kill-- but I would sure like the insurance. It is so big that it would likely cool the Jeep without ever having an electric fan run. This would eliminate the engine fan and increase the HP a little, and get better Gas Milage. This is very simular to what late model front wheel drive cars do-- have really big radiators.

There is one issue though--- with no engine fan--- does the engine compartment get too hot? I wonder because 20 years ago I put a Buick V6 in a VW van. The radiator was originally on the nose of the van (ugly) with 25 feet total of radiator hose. With no air blowing across the engine the engine compartment got so hot that it boiled the gas in the carb bowl-- and the battery casing melted-- the sheet metal in the rear passenger area got too hot to be tolerated. So I put a fan in the engine and it cooled off the compartment significantly. Later I mounted a Big Block Mopar Radiator that was 40 inches wide on the read of the van-- it cooled even in the High Utah (San Raphel) desert when it was 114 degrees-- and I was driving on dirt roads at 15 miles an hour.

So will the engine compartment on the Jeep also get too hot without an engine /water pump mounted fan? I wonder because there is NO insulation on the Jeep fire wall-- nor hood--- humm.

 

I would say that if you're going to chain up and run in deep snow you're going to need a better cooling system than most. The only time my rig really starts to get hot is in a long hard pull through the mud - something I normally try to avoid.

Maybe fans on both sides of the radiator would be easier than the oversized radiator you're considering?

I've never tried the hi flow water pumps but you might want to look into that.

 

Nice job on the shroud!

I'm running dual Taurus fans and they do fine below 1500 RPM sitting still. If I wind it up above that while stationary when using the On Board Welder, roughly 2250 RPM, the temperature creeps up after about 5 minutes and I need to let it idle to cool down. I think if I built a shroud it would do fine.

I haven't experienced the engine compartment becoming too hot while running only electric fans. Normally when it does get hot as mentioned above, the hood is open allowing heat to escape.

 

Thanks. It's not my idea. It's based off of the way GM holds the radiator with the plastic shroud.

It is my own design BTW.

 

I put a 3.8 Chevy v-6 in a Toyota p.u. and ran 2 electric fans as pullers. The only problem I ever had was the fans ran more juice than the 63 amp alternator could put out at low rpm city driving. The cure was a 105 amp CS130 that took care of the problem with more output at low rpm.
I ran my fans thru a circuit breaker and relays for each fan. I had it wired to run off a mechanical temp sensor and a manual swicth but I used the manual switch most of the time. I believe electric fans are more dependable than they once were but would still rather use an oem pull out than an aftermarket .