5 replies to this topic

[Lewis_d54]

I'm still a long long way off putting the engine back into my van but I like to plan ahead so here goes… 

 

I've seen lots of people add electric fans to their cars, be it with or without keeping the standard engine driven fan but I was wondering if it was possible to remove the engine driven fan and fit an electric one in it's place? (on the engine side of the rad rather than wing side)

 

The main benefit I can think of with this arrangement would be more efficient cooling as the fan would be working in conjunction with the fan shroud to draw the air through the engine bay into the rad.

 

The only struggle I can think of would be clearance between the fans motor and the water pump / engine.

 

Anyone have any ideas? 

 

cheers,

 

Lewis

 

[Richie83]

I might be wrong, but the electric fans all bolt close to the core on the wing side with a new set of brackets (kind of acts like a shroud) and work very well in this position. I suppose you could bolt in on the other side but it would be tricky with the existing cowel, plus you'd have to run the wiring in a different way.

I'm actually running just with an electric fan on my 1380 K1100 and it does keep it cool. That said I'm reinstalling the mechanical fan and plan to use the electric one as a backup.

[nicklouse]

I'm still a long long way off putting the engine back into my van but I like to plan ahead so here goes… 
 
I've seen lots of people add electric fans to their cars, be it with or without keeping the standard engine driven fan but I was wondering if it was possible to remove the engine driven fan and fit an electric one in it's place? (on the engine side of the rad rather than wing side)
 
The main benefit I can think of with this arrangement would be more efficient cooling as the fan would be working in conjunction with the fan shroud to draw the air through the engine bay into the rad.
 
The only struggle I can think of would be clearance between the fans motor and the water pump / engine.
 
Anyone have any ideas? 
 
cheers,
 
Lewis

Less efficient. The current fan works with the shroud. Replacement items have their own shroud .

Then there is the issue of no room as you have a water pump in the way.


If you want an electric add it to the other side to work in tandem when needed. Inner wing mods needed.

[Spider]

While I'm not a fan of electric fans (boom boom) I have seen them fitted up in there. Cosy but do-able.

 

Just be sure the fan blow air from the engine bay it to the wheel arch.

[Lewis_d54]

Thanks for the swift replies. 

 

I'm definitely getting an electric fan anyway. If it looks like I can squeeze it in between the rad and the water pump I may give it ago otherwise running both sounds like a sensible option. 

[Cooperman]

It is unwise to remove the mechanical fan as electric fans do not normally have a 100% duty cycle (i.e. running all the time) which is necessary with a side-mounted radiator. Electric fans are usually fitted as necessary only for short periods in heavy traffic.

There is no gain in running a fan 100% of the time as it requires the same amount of energy as a mechanical one and will simply mean the alternator, via the fan belt, is taking the same power from the engine as the mechanical fan does.

With an electric fan only, failure of the fan motor means you stop unless you carry a spare. A broken fan belt means you fit the spare one which is easy.

So just an electric fan = more risk for absolutely no gain.