2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Yet another electric fan question....

[The patriot]

OK sorry. I'm sure this has been beaten to death. No search function, soooo... .

It's summer again and I just got the factory fan back on. For a stock truck, this was a noticable drop in HP.

Who out there is using an electric fan, and under what conditions?

How well is it/them working for you, and what brand and model are you using? Do you tow with it? Do you tow in stop and go traffic?

I've been trying to find something commercial duty. Maybe something off a midrange truck? Do they even use electric?

When I was an owner operator (over 15 yrs ago) I was thinking about an electric fan, but at the time choice was very limited, and the price was $500. 00-$800. 00.

TIA

Eric

 

[drawson]

I am running three electric fans on mine. A 16" perma-cool inside the radiator, it is wored to run come one at 180 deg coolant temp. A 14" thin line on the outside of the A/C condencer that come on with the A/C. And a 8" of unknown brand right in front of the intercooler, it is wired to come on with a air charge temp switch at 130 deg. I also have it wired to turn then all on with a manual switch on my dash. Which comes in really handy cooling off the EGTs at shut down. I ran this all last summer with the exception of my family vacation to Oregon. I put the factory fan back on not because I needed it for cooling but in case there one of the fans failed. I just took off the inside fan and installed the OE fan leaving the others on. I did quite a bit of towing locally w/o any problems. The one time I had higher than normal coolant temp was doing some slow off roading and the Coolant temp sendoer had failed. All I had to do is flip the manual over ride switch on the and then temp came right back down to normal.



I will probibly put the OE fan back on again this summer just for my trip to Calagary in July.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks Dee. Do you live in a hot climate? Ever tow something in traffic with this setup?

Slow speeds towing seems like it'll be the acid test.

Eric

 

[drawson]

Yes here in Utah it get hot at least a couple of weeks with the highs in the 100s. I have towed in traffic when hot and things where fine my only big concern is the fan motor failure.

 

[tobaccogrower]

flex-a-lite....

eric... .

i have a flex-x-lite monster truck fan. it has twin 14'' fans on it and moves 5500cfm at 0* static pressure. i've towed my 16' utility trailer with it a few times and temps never went over 175*! its quiet and was easy to install(had to make costom brackets) they have it on there web site. model #240. if you order one, tell them to throw in the override switch. it dosn't come with the $250 fan you would think they would have it with the kit. cost me $12 for the switch and $8 to ship it!!!!!! good product, Flex-A-Lite, but don't scimp on the little things ... . james

 

[Steve Campbell]

drawson...Hmmm...Calgary in July

... Must be a Stampede fan

 

[illflem]

Flex-a-Lite

Looks good! http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/Application Guide/fulltruck.htm # 260 is recommended for a Cummins

 

[The patriot]

Hummm... a lot to think about.

I saw this place:

http://www.spal-usa.com/html/dampframe.htm

But after seeing how many CFM you guys are flowing, I'd need a pusher and a puller. Also, these fans are 24 volt, but that wouldnt be a big problem.

I suppose I'd be best off with a flex-a-lite. I would want to get a small pusher in the front like Dee has. I wouldnt want to cycle that huge fan(s) just to have my A/C.

Thanks again guys.

Eric

 

[Lsfarm]

Flex a Lite

I'm running a Flex a Lite fan on my truck, and while I haven't towed with it yet, around town and on the freeway, it is doing the job.



I ran fanless all winter, and just last week with the 85* weather, I decided it was time to install the electric fan.



The fan comes with an attached relay and temp sensor, and the install was simple.



I let the truck idle long enough to get the temp above 190* indicated, then turned on the A/C [which turns on the electric fan via relay]. I was surprised to see a rapid drop in the temp. I didn't think that the fan would be this effective, especially since it was pulling air through the warm A/C condenser.



So, I'm impressed so far with this simple, single fan.



When I have towed in the past, I have only had the stock fan-clutch engage a few times, and only at the top of a several mile long uphill pull. So I think this electric fan will do the job for 99% of my driving.



Greg L

 

[Cooker]

Greg, what model fan did you go with?





I am not too anxious to install the OEM fan either. I have a Flex-A-Lite fan setup (Model 260) sitting in the basement as we speak. I am trying to decide if I want to install it or spend big money on a Horton.



I think the 260 will definitely move enough air for our application, but I am concerned about them failing (maybe I worry too much ). I have had electric fans in the past fail (actually a fuse popped for whatever reason). This happened while I left the truck running while I went into the Bank. I came out an the needle was burried. I definitley do not want this to happen to my Cummins.

 

[Lsfarm]

Flex a lite fan

Hi Ryan, it is a Flex a Lite model 150. I bought it used at last years AACA Hershey swap meet. So it was more of an experiment than a planned purchase.



If you have one of the double fans, I'd consider splitting the elecrtical supply to them so that at least one will work if you have a single failure.



This should give you some peace of mind.



I was driving around in the 85* weather without any fan, and as long as I was moving, I was still running the A/C, and not getting hot. And it never got hot at stoplights either [A/C off]. But I'm sure if I got stuck in stop and go driving, it would have heated up.



I'm pretty sure that this fan will work fine except for heavy towing. Time will tell.



Take care, Greg

 

[The patriot]

Cooker, if you decide you dont want the 260, let me know... .

Eric

 

[Chipstien]

Anyone know Horton's website?

 

[BK]

Hi folks. .



Just following a long. I've been interested in going electric on the fans too, but all I've read said that the electrics dont have enough CFM and power in the pull of the air to deal with our GCVW.



Interesting to see about this 260 kit.

I visited the site... read the literature notes. . there were some holes. . it said "some dodge applications".



In reading their application charts...

on this page

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/Application Guide/dodgetrucks.htm



it says that those big honking fans are NOT recommend as primary coolers when theres a cummins and a 4 core radiator. .

Which I guess means when it really gets hot, there may not be enough CFM and these fans alone can't deal with the restrictions through the radiator... can't provide enought suction.



I wonder if you one was to use one set as a puller and one set as a pusher of that would over come the issue?

 

[GLASMITHS]

Enough airflow

BK: I am trying to deal with the same problem. Does anyone know what the stock fan flows? This might help.

 

[BK]

It more than just cfm... according to the flexolite page.

Which makes sense. There's a ton of restriction on our front ends.

we have intercooler, the A/C unit and the 4 core radiator.

The power and fan blade design needs to be such to not have the air stall around the fan blades as it trys to draw the air through this whole mess. I think that's what the flexolite apps page is trying to say.

It's like having a ton of HP with no torque... you'll go real fast untill there's any sort of load.

The air restriction of all the cooling devices are that load.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Rusty JC tried one of the elec set-ups and did not have good luck with it towing his 5th wheel. I'd say try a search, but... ...



Brian

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by NVR FNSH

Rusty JC tried one of the elec set-ups and did not have good luck with it towing his 5th wheel. I'd say try a search, but... ...



Brian

Brian,



Just for the record, I tried it on my 1996 3500 V-10 automatic.



Rusty

 

[jsimpson]

It's not just CFM, but there's really only one other factor: whether or not your fan is BLOCKING airflow. I tried plastic electric fans on my motorhome and their shrouds blocked so much air that it ran hotter with them than without them! The Perma-Cool fan is all metal and has no shroud. It flows 2900 cfm. A pair of those will handle anything your Cummins can dish out and then some! less than a hundred bucks each when I bought thm at Summit.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by jsimpson
It's not just CFM, but there's really only one other factor: whether or not your fan is BLOCKING airflow. I tried plastic electric fans on my motorhome and their shrouds blocked so much air that it ran hotter with them than without them! The Perma-Cool fan is all metal and has no shroud. It flows 2900 cfm. A pair of those will handle anything your Cummins can dish out and then some! less than a hundred bucks each when I bought thm at Summit.

You have any pictures of your mounting scheme? I need to add a single fan to the outside to aid A/C heat removal when moving slow (like under 30MPH). With the fan outside, that'll leave the stock fan to do its magic the rare times it's needed. I suppose I'll go an measure and see what's needed to mount the podgy thing.

I'd go with a used Horton, but I haven't see any.

[On edit, there's no room outside. I would have to rip out the stock fan and shroud to install dual 14" fans inside. But looking at the shroud, it appears to block about 30% of the radiator; it also provides the mounting for the radiator overflow and the washer fluid containers. Maybe my best bet would be to change to a 205F clutch, which someone said he did on his truck. ]

Fest3er