Electric Fans....are they worth it?

[Ma70.Ent]

I've been told there's no use in trying to change the fan, but I've also read drjonezz site (even if it hasn't been updated in awhile...I'm not sure if it has or hasn't.) and it says it's a good/cheap modification.

#6 Lose that power robbing belt-driven fan

Objective - Reduce load on engine, improve cooling by removal of stock fan/clutch assembly attached to water pump.

Solution - Get a Permacool 14" High Performance electric fan (or equivalent, but make sure it flows more than 2500 CFM). Pull the radiator, install the fan on the radiator, remove the stock fan, reinstall the new radiator/fan assembly, wire it up and you're good to go. No big fan being turned by the crank means the engine can rev more freely, greater airflow by the electric fan means better cooling.

Cost? about $115 for the fan and a temp switch (to turn the fan on when the engine reaches a certain temp).

Any experiences or something?

 

[Nick M]

For track use, sure. For street use, electrics have gotten warm on some people.

 

[bluedragon17]

For track use, sure. For street use, electrics have gotten warm on some people.

what do you mean electrics have gottne warm on some people??? they have overheated the electric motor on the fan or something else???

 

[TRACKMKIII]

I have been wondering the same thing, but my question is once the fan and fan clutch are gone what will turn the water pump? The little pulley that is on the pump is held in place by the clutch.

 

[Insidious Surmiser]

I have been wondering the same thing, but my question is once the fan and fan clutch are gone what will turn the water pump? The little pulley that is on the pump is held in place by the clutch.

mine has 4 studs... and 4 nuts hold the fan/clutch assembly in place on top of the pulley... the same studs hold the pulley in place... all you have to do is remove the fan/clutch assembly

 

[Clip]

ive heard of a few people's fans failing here and there, some electronics going bad. anyone have any input on this? how about flex-a-lite fans?

 

[drjonez]

the only reason that an efan'd car gets warm is other issues....a properly set up cooling system + efan should run just fine.

i need to update my site, i'm not a big fan of permacool fans anymore. i recommend zirgo or FAL....

 

[Clip]

MA, where'd you get that list of tips for the mk3? i know i've seen it around before but forget where it was.

 

[dav_dman]

the only reason that an efan'd car gets warm is other issues....a properly set up cooling system + efan should run just fine.

i need to update my site, i'm not a big fan of permacool fans anymore. i recommend zirgo or FAL....

doc, zirgo is so much cheaper than fal.. one third the cost ... you sure about their reliability? i know nothing about any of them but would like to go that route..

 

[MA70Supra88]

MA, where'd you get that list of tips for the mk3? i know i've seen it around before but forget where it was.

http://www.4cefed.com/naperf.html
http://ma70.com/bishop/namod.html

 

[robeats91t]

Electric fans are ideal for people who have reworked their cooling systems recently and live in moderate to cool climates.

If you put an electric fan setup on a 15 year old cooling system, you're just begging for cooling system issues.

If you do go with e-fans, make sure you either get one that you can make work with the stock shroud or one that is already shrouded, otherwise airflow will suffer even more.

I've had e-fans here in Florida for 5+ months now on a fresh hg with a newish oem radiator, water pump, 190* t-stat and all new hoses. Temp readings from my GReddy gauge stay around 90-95 C which translates to 194 to 203 F...and the stock gauge sits just under halfway.

E-fans work, when set up on a car that is in good shape. Money well spent? That's up for debate. For the cost of my FAL 210's and the SPAL fan controller, I could've had a CSF race radiator and a good condition Toyota fan shroud and under cover, maybe even a new/refurb fan clutch. Always consider your opportunity cost...

 

[dallas]

florida FTL ...

and in all honesty i can say that

 

[TRACKMKIII]

mine has 4 studs... and 4 nuts hold the fan/clutch assembly in place on top of the pulley... the same studs hold the pulley in place... all you have to do is remove the fan/clutch assembly

Oh that makes sense!! Sorry for the dumb question!!:3d_frown:

 

[robeats91t]

florida FTL ...

and in all honesty i can say that

Oh don't even get me started on how much Florida is FTL...

I could post VOLUMES on the subject...but I'll spare everyone.

*explodes*

 

[drjonez]

doc, zirgo is so much cheaper than fal.. one third the cost ... you sure about their reliability? i know nothing about any of them but would like to go that route..

from what i know and the hot rod guys i've talked to, they're great. i have no personal experience since my new turbo decided to die before i ever had a chance to stress it....

 

[shaeff]

^ugh, that sucks!

edit: and to add constructive text to the thread, i'll say that i'm going with e-fans this winter, amongst many other things. i've been looking at that huge zirgo 16" fan, but i think i'm going to run two smaller fans, and position one up high on the exhaust side of the radiator, and one down lower on the intake side.

i suppose that will keep everything nice and cool. it might draw a lot though, so perhaps the mr2 alternator upgrade is in my future, too. i guess i'll figure it out.

-shaeff

 

[he lives]

if nothing else it cleans up the engine bay enough to work on. Gets old having to take on and off the fan.

 

[supramacist]

Just an opinion, but I would rather have a reliable part that weighs a bit more or causes a bit of drag, Because the stocker fan clutch works well as long as your fan shroud was intact. ANd ya, It get's old taking the fan off everytime but it's just a part of it. It being all things supra.

 

[supraman7mgte]

i have had a 14 " permacool fan on my supra with the thermostat switch for over five years,and have only had to replace the thermostat once,and it was because of my own stupid fault. of course i have a pwr radiator that helps a little.

 

[87supraman]

I'm running a flex lite fan with a built in temp sensor, and it runs great, I have a new radiator too tho, but I was running an old fan I found off of an old cadillac, on my old radiator, and it ran fine too, it ran too cool lol