Electric Fan on a Diesel

[Denominator]

Have read some threads about diesel and electric fans, but cant find the information I am looking for.
Is it possible to put an electric fan on a 6.2 diesel? Or will it not push enough air towards the enige? What if I put a dual fan systen on it? My mechanical fan system are missing so much parts, that it will quite a hassle to gather all the parts from the junk yard or parts dealers.

Thanks,
Tom Winchester

 

[rwright07]

yes it works great, get the fan and weatherproof connectors from a Ford Windstar Minivan from a salvage yard.
i did this after i crushed my mechanical fan shroud and havent looked back

search windstar fan for multiple writeups and discussion either here or on pirate4x4.com

rick

 

[Denominator]

yes it works great, get the fan and weatherproof connectors from a Ford Windstar Minivan from a salvage yard.
i did this after i crushed my mechanical fan shroud and havent looked back

search windstar fan for multiple writeups and discussion either here or on pirate4x4.com

rick

Thank you very much!

Tom T. Winchester

 

[6.2Blazer]

I'm sure it would work as long as the fans had a high enough capacity.

Regarding the comment about missing pieces...there's not a whole lot to a mechanical fan setup so I wouldn't think it would be too hard to put it back together.

 

[Denominator]

Regarding the comment about missing pieces...there's not a whole lot to a mechanical fan setup so I wouldn't think it would be too hard to put it back together.

Probably not. I am missing the fan, clutch, bolts and the shroud, but still doable. But the same time, electric is a nicer setup

 

[BKinzey]

Certainly you can add an electric fan but don't try to replace your mechanical fan with an electric one. Electric fans won't match the volume of air of the mechanical. You need to fix your stock fan.

 

[rwright07]

i call BS on that one, my windstar fans keep my 6.5 diesel cooler than the mechanical fan ever did, and i can turn it on or off, to help the engine warm up or to cross water.
its simple do the search here or on pirate i recommended earlier

 

[6.2Blazer]

But the same time, electric is a nicer setup

Well, that line of thought is simply personal opinion in my book. I'm the exact opposite. I can't count the number of times we've had guys on the trail with overheating issues because their electric fans crapped out, while I've only ever seen one issue with a mechanical fan setup and it was a freak thing (tried to go up a steep embankment and didn't make it, but apparently it pulled the front license plate off, when he backed up it somehow pushed the plate into the fan).

Yes, you can get electric fans with enough capacity to cool anything. But in general a mechanical fan can move a higher volume of air. Just look at the blade pitch of a typical electric vs. manual fan, manual will have a much steeper pitch. The small electric motor just couldn't spin the manual fan blade.

 

[dyeager535]

Only reason electric can possibly be considered better than a clutched manual is the ability to shut them off for water crossings.

No one can say the electrics move more air or not, since the CFM rating of the stock fans are not known. Of course, as you mention, all the high CFM setups are dual fan to move enough air to keep the engines as cool as a single mechanical fan does.

 

[mxfireman]

i call BS on that one, my windstar fans keep my 6.5 diesel cooler than the mechanical fan ever did, and i can turn it on or off, to help the engine warm up or to cross water.
its simple do the search here or on pirate i recommended earlier

I wish I could say the same for my electric set up. In my case I wish that I would have just stayed with the stock and not wasted soo much money on the electric.

Have you done any towing with it since you put electric on it? If so what is the out come of that. My electrics don't do good when I am towing or when it is a million degrees out here in AZ.

I would have rather kept my stock set up and maybee put an auxillary fan in for when I towed.

 

[Denominator]

Everyone must keep in mind that we seldom go over 77 fahrenheit/25 celsius here in Norway. Could that make any difference?

 

[BKinzey]

There are a few considerations. Will you be towing? Virtually all the experiences I've read state electric fans are not enough. The best set-up here is usually to have both the mechanical & electric fans. Those who tried just electric have gone back to mechanical.

If you do a lot of low speed traveling, 10 - 20mph, or idling in rock climbing or mud. Here the mechanical fan isn't as efficient or pulls as much air as an electric can.

Peak performance out of a mechanical fan runs about 7,000cfm to 9,000cfm. I don't know of any electric set-ups that can match that.

Generally though trying to replace your mechanical fan with an electric one is not a good idea.

For more information on the 6.2 / 6.5 engines I'd suggest you check out The Diesel Place: http://dieselplace.com/forum/index.php There is a wealth of information there.

 

[longbedder]

Will you be towing? Virtually all the experiences I've read state electric fans are not enough.

I would say the problem there is that the electric fans attach to the radiator, and would actually impede the free flow of air at speed (blockage on the backside). I say that because at highway speed you don't even need a fan - the air moving thru the radiator is primarily due to the vehicle's forward motion. I have had firsthand experience with this when a fan clutch shot craps on me (Flagstaff to Albuquerque in July in a 1-ton with a load).

 

[Denominator]

There are a few considerations. Will you be towing?

Yes I will be towing. But the rules for towing here in norway is a bit different than in the USA. On my drivers license I cant exceed 7716 lbs CGVW.
Anyways, a 1985 chevy K5 in norway can't exceed 10249 lbs CGVW.
Yes I know, the rules and regulations in norway are strange