5 replies to this topic

[DaveVader]

Doing L2B last weekend has made me realise that sitting in traffic for prolonged periods really heats up my engine.
I've got a standard mechanical fan with a side mount two core radiator and under normal driving conditions my engine temperature is fine (and I'm pretty sure my fan is oriented the correct way). The engine is a mildly tuned 1275, high compression jobby and I've been thinking of sticking an auxiliary electric fan that I can switch on in traffic.

I've found a couple on eBay, some cheap ones, but wasn't actually sure what size to get as I'm too lazy to measure my radiator. What size are other people running? Where did you get 'em? How much? I'm probably gonna be cheap.

[jon_barnes77]

the one that came fitted with mine (late carb/early SPi models), screwed into the inner wing, on the wheel side of the wing. it was connected to a sender at the bottom of the radiator, but i wired it up to the dash (replacing the brake warning light), they're supposedly counter productive at >30mph if they're on.

According to minisport, mine costs £130!??? that's ridiculous as it looks rubbish.

I had to take it out when the flip front was fitted, but looking to try and fit it again or fit a different one, as mine's also fine when it's driving, it's standing still in traffic that gets it, and i have to turn the heater on and wind the windows down.

I was thinking of adding a small fan to the front grill, just to increase the airflow slightly when i'm stationary.

[DaveVader]

Yeah, £130 is something I will not pay.
The fan will barely be used, it's only in heavy stop start traffic which is when I need it as, even with the heater on, I start to overheat.

So anyone able to offer any advice?

[DaveVader]

Found out my 1275 has a 998 fan, that could contribute to the lack of cooling power :|

[brianmini]

My '92 1275 Cooper has a wing mounted fan, and it hardly ever comes on. I fitted a sports 2 core radiator about 6 years ago, and a flush out every few years means I can sit forever in stopped traffic and the engine barely goes over 3/4. However the secondary fan doesn't kick in until your right about to hit Red, which I think is no good. On the rare occasion that the temp does stray skywards what I do is rev up to 1500-2000 rpm for a minute, this means your engine mounted fan is doing some work at shifting air through the radiator and cools down.

[Cooperman]

The best mechanical fan is the 6-blade export fan. However, on a tuned 1275 it can still get a bit warm when in heavy traffic and once a 1275 gets hot it can be hard to get the temp down again. Any electric fan will help really so get the best deal you can. Mount it between the rad and the inner wing. If you have to mount it on the other side of the inner wing you will need to shroud between rad and inner wing as on the Mk 1 cars to ensure good flow through the rad to the elec. fan. That will only apply if your rad is thicker than standard.
On my 1310 cc rally car I just have the electric fan wired in with a manual switch and I turn it on when I stop in trafffic and switch it off asa soon as it's moving along again. It never gets over about 90 deg C so it's fine.