10 replies to this topic

[tom130691]

does it suck through the rad to the engine, 

or blow air through the rad at the wheel? 

looking at going electric wasnt sure the best way to set it up

 

[dennismini93]

sucks past the engine and blows out through the rad and wing

[alex-95]

yep blows past the wheel, if you stand by the wheel and have someone rev the engine you can feel the air.

[HarrysMini]

The mechanical fan blows into the rad, if you fit an electric fan, it would go on the wing blowing away from the rad (to the wheel)

[mab01uk]

Diagrams of the factory fitted electric fans and aftermarket:

 

http://www.minispare...6.aspx?2~19~181

 

http://www.somerford...page=page&id=97

[vx220]

I jave read you need to choose your fan carefully, as the rad in the wing needs a fan almost all the time (no problem with the engine driven fan) but most car fans aren't rated to run all the time?

I'm sure someone else will confirm or deny this

Edited by vx220, 16 April 2014 - 09:43 PM.

[Cooperman]

Unless being used for short races, the mechanical fan is essential for reliability. An electric fan is not rated for continuous use, but the Mini needs constant air flow through the radiator.

[Mini Manannán]

Unless being used for short races, the mechanical fan is essential for reliability. An electric fan is not rated for continuous use, but the Mini needs constant air flow through the radiator.

 

Just wondering why Peter?  My mate who does a lot of my engineering is keen to go electric and get rid of the constant fan.  Mind you, he wants to put a rad in below the grille so that would be constant airflow.

[Dan]

There is very little impetus for air coming in through the grille as you travel to move through the restrictive rad core naturally. The normal path for air is through the grille, around the engine, down the bulkhead and out under the car. Now having said that many people have removed the fan and not had a problem, and many even find they don't need a constantly running electric fan. It is definitely the case that hardly any serious air moving fans of this type are designed for 100% duty. They are almost exclusively designed for thermostatic control so they start and stop. Look at the MPi Mini for example. Part of BMWs work to keep the car on the road by making it pass ever tighter European regs was to reduce drive-by noise which meant loosing the fan. Their solution to the problem, and the only properly developed and fully tested and engineered solution, was to change to the front rad. It cost a fortune and if they could have got away with just removing the fan and fitting a bigger rad and electric blower they would have.

Edited by Dan, 17 April 2014 - 09:35 AM.

[Mini Manannán]

Ok, I understand that Dan.  MPI stylee should be fine though?  My mate's thinking GSXR 1100 radiator behind the front valance below the grille.

[Cooperman]

With a side mounted radiator, an electric fan is no gain at all.

For a race car where the fan could be driven from a fully charged battery with no power required from the alternator, it does make some sense, but for a continuously run fan in a road car, the same amount of air needs to be shifted through the radiator to get the  heat out, which requires the same amount of mechanical 'work'. Thus the same amount of energy needs to be obtained and this can come from either the mechanical fan of from the alternator, both of which are driven from the crankshaft pulley via the fan/alternator belt.

But, the electric fan is not a 'continuously-rated' item and is thus liable to failure when used continuously. When that happens and there is no mechanical fay, you ain't going anywhere. So reliability would be compromised for a gain which is not evident, especially for road use.