17 replies to this topic

[Mk1Dave]

Has anyone fitted one of these fan kits as a replacement to standard fan? If so what are your thoughts on any improvements
http://www.minispare...00.aspx|Back to

[Ellie]

I bought one of the Universal fans and mounted it on the inner wing.
It's on a switch for now, I'll get a stat sender and swap it.
London to Brighton was no problem.
Kept the gauge well below half way, even when sat in the queue.
Mines an early 84.
Only cost £12.99

[Cooperman]

Never replace the metal or plastic fan with an electric one. The electric fans are for auxiliary cooling when used of side mounted rads.

The best fan for a side-mounted rad is the 6-blade steel export fan, with an electric aux. fan under the wing sucking air from inside the engine bay via the radiator.

A side mounted rad needs a constant high level of air-flow through it and an electric fan does not have a duty cycle or life-span to allow 100% utilisation.

[Ellie]

That's exactly what I've got, but with the four blade metal fan. Sat an hour at Brighton, temperature under control, without the heater roasting me.

[RooBoonix]

Never replace the metal or plastic fan with an electric one. The electric fans are for auxiliary cooling when used of side mounted rads.

The best fan for a side-mounted rad is the 6-blade steel export fan, with an electric aux. fan under the wing sucking air from inside the engine bay via the radiator.

A side mounted rad needs a constant high level of air-flow through it and an electric fan does not have a duty cycle or life-span to allow 100% utilisation.

 

Would you say the export fan is a good upgrade for any car? I've got an SPi, without the electric fan (must have broken off in the past) and a 11 blade fan, at L2B in the queue it was getting a bit hot. I can't justify the mammoth cost of a fan from Minispares either... What size fan from eBay would I need? Would it be a 10"?

Edited by RooBoonix, 21 May 2015 - 09:43 PM.

[Ellie]

I used the 9" universal one.

[RooBoonix]

I used the 9" universal one.

 

Does your car have the hole in the wing already cut or is it "vented"? Mine has a hole, I'll measure tomorrow and see what will fit :)

[Ellie]

Yeah it was vented. With those vertical slots.

[Cooperman]

If a Mini is getting hot in traffic there are several things you need to do:

 

1.  Flush out the cooling system with a cleaning fluid.

2.  Remove & check the thermostat for correct operation, replacing if necessary.

3.  Check the fan is on the correct way round - many are not.

4.  Fit a 6-blade export fan.

 

If it still gets a bit too hot, and genuinely hot, not just hot on the electric gauge, fit a manually switched auxiliary fan to suck a bit more air through the radiator from under the wing.

[RooBoonix]

If a Mini is getting hot in traffic there are several things you need to do:

 

1.  Flush out the cooling system with a cleaning fluid.

2.  Remove & check the thermostat for correct operation, replacing if necessary.

3.  Check the fan is on the correct way round - many are not.

4.  Fit a 6-blade export fan.

 

If it still gets a bit too hot, and genuinely hot, not just hot on the electric gauge, fit a manually switched auxiliary fan to suck a bit more air through the radiator from under the wing.

 

You sir, are amazing. Thank you :)

[Mk1Dave]

Thank you. All advise taken in and noted.

[pusb]

How difficult is it to fit an auxiliary fan?

Do you have to remove the slats on the wing?

[mini danny]

My mini is running a 1330 and use to get very hot very quickly in traffic. Brought a universal slimline fan off eBay, cost me 20 quid wired it up to a switch even in traffic now she doesn't go past half way with my electric fan on. Great upgrade I thought and I didn't even need to bend the slats on the inner wing


Dan

[Cooperman]

I thought I had an overheating car once. The temp gauge went right up towards the 'red' after about 10 minutes running. I did all the things above with no improvement.

The real solution was to fit a mechanical capilliary-type gauge kit from Mini Spares, after which the indicated temp never went above about 80 degrees in normal driving and 90 - 95 in traffic. The standard temp gauges are notoriously inaccurate.

[RooBoonix]

What is the rough temperature of each "marker" on the standard gauge? ie: What temperature does red show?