Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Been searchin thru threads and don't see anything that directly addresses what I've got goin' on. A history to keep it brief.
From the time my '03 HO was new, the fan clutch would occasionally stick at startup, so that driving out the road she'd howl (not as bad, different sound) like a big truck. A couple of shifts through 2500 rpm and she'd break loose in pretty short order and quiet down.
Only time she legitimately kcked in and set up a roar was with 13K on behind over a mountain. No problem there.
Problem now came up when I had the oilpan replaced last summer. Had to pay to have it done only because I'm not set up to beable to hold the motor up with everything that has to be stripped off it to do the job. since I got it back, my mileage runnin' around bareback has dropped from 19-20 to 14-15 mpg.
At the same time, I've got a low groan that's developed. Don't really hear it underway, but at idle. A check under the hood shows the fan runnin' at idle, even when cold. I can lay a heavily gloved hand on it and stop the fan.
All I can figure is that the fan clutch has got to where it is permanently stuck. I had tires and an exhaust to replace at about the same time, so the truck didn't move much for a couple of summer months while I accumulated funds for everything that needed doin', and am only guessin' that that's when the problem might have developed.
Would a fan cost me that much mileage, or should I be lookin' for something else?
Thoughts, suggestions, solutions are all welcome.
From the time my '03 HO was new, the fan clutch would occasionally stick at startup, so that driving out the road she'd howl (not as bad, different sound) like a big truck. A couple of shifts through 2500 rpm and she'd break loose in pretty short order and quiet down.
Only time she legitimately kcked in and set up a roar was with 13K on behind over a mountain. No problem there.
Problem now came up when I had the oilpan replaced last summer. Had to pay to have it done only because I'm not set up to beable to hold the motor up with everything that has to be stripped off it to do the job. since I got it back, my mileage runnin' around bareback has dropped from 19-20 to 14-15 mpg.
At the same time, I've got a low groan that's developed. Don't really hear it underway, but at idle. A check under the hood shows the fan runnin' at idle, even when cold. I can lay a heavily gloved hand on it and stop the fan.
All I can figure is that the fan clutch has got to where it is permanently stuck. I had tires and an exhaust to replace at about the same time, so the truck didn't move much for a couple of summer months while I accumulated funds for everything that needed doin', and am only guessin' that that's when the problem might have developed.
Would a fan cost me that much mileage, or should I be lookin' for something else?
Thoughts, suggestions, solutions are all welcome.
