Clutch fan and river crossing

[JHG]

I have an 81 K5 with 6.2 diesel with the OEM clutch fan. Will the clutch make the fan stop/slow down when it hits the water?

I have been wondering putting an electric fan but thats another thing that can break down at the track so I would like to keep the clutch fan if possible. But if that will be a problem when I cross a river (well, havent had a problem yet but dont want to count on that) I will put an electric fan in.

So what do you think?

 

[vortec]

i've seen it happen on a jeep. the guy thought i was crazy for removing my fan before we crossed a river. but when i made it across the river fine then had to tow him out because his fan bent and ripped open his radiator he wasn't laughing anymore. i've considered going to electric fans but i would still carry my old belt-driven fan as backup.

 

[Fordum]

On my old CJ5, we never bothered. It would make a racket until it got submerged deep enough. Never hurt the fan as far as I could tell.
On regular days, we would have to cross a small river 4 or 5 times per day both ways.
Water up to the navel, headlights under at night.

When the main river came up, it was about a mile and a half to the camp underwater the whole way.
Just over headlight level.
But, the fan on that thing was heavy gauge steel.

Years later, in my truck, I learned that a brief water crossing was ok.
The clutch fan would just slip, with no damage if I went into it slow.

But, more than a couple of minutes underwater, and I was looking at a new clutch about a week or so later.

Since its a fluid clutch, it could not burn up, but I think the internal pressure damaged the seals.

All this was driving slowly.
If you are going to be running at speed, all bets are off.

J.

 

[K85 Octane]

I've heard of ppl quickly loosening some belts before a crossing. Never done it or witnessed it though.

wouldn't do it for a long period of time, might affect too many other things

 

[JHG]

I have loosened the fan belt few time, but once I didnt bother and even though the water came over the lights (and a little over the bonnet) the flex-fan I had then didnt bend. Now I am thinking of keeping the stock fan, I will just loosen the fan belt if the rivers are big.

I never go at speed into rivers, "as slow as possible and as fast as necessary".