flex fans vs clutch fans

For high rpm use, flex fans are considered an upgrade over clutch fans. They can be a good choice for modified vehicles turning 6,000 – 8,000 rpm. Advantages include: They move more air for better cooling.

How much horsepower does a flex fan take?

I’m sure a flex fan takes 5-10 horse but some large electric fans can pull 30 amps. Might be a horse or two just to make that. For the money you can’t go wrong with a standard thermal coupled mechanical fan and a proper shroud.

Is a pusher fan better than a puller fan?

Push vs Pull

When a vehicle is moving, a pusher fan can obstruct airflow due to its positioning in front of the radiator. A puller fan on the other hand sits right behind the radiator. It pulls air through the radiator and has less impact on airflow at high speeds than a pusher fan since it is behind the radiator.

Is a fan clutch necessary?

The sole purpose of your engine’s fan system is to cool it down, and without the fan clutch activating, the fan itself cannot turn and keep your engine at the proper temperature for peak performance.

How much horsepower does a fan clutch use?

If the fan is required the clutch kicks in and the fan uses maybe one or two HP to turn it. If you have electric fans, your engine must drive the alternator to provide the electric power for them. This might add up to one or two HP also.

How much horsepower do you gain with electric fan?

In a normal pickup situation, even in high ambient temperatures, the electric fan system will only draw a maximum of about 5 horsepower from the engine. This significant savings improves fuel economy, and, in turn, reduces emissions while improving vehicle performance.

What is the difference between a thermal and non thermal fan clutch?

A non-thermal fan clutch is nothing more than a thermal fan clutch always partly engaged. It provides adequate cooling when needed, however, it does not save you money by disengaging (operating at a lower RPM) when additional cooling is not needed.

Why is an electric fan better than mechanical?

Electric Fans An electric fan completely removes the mechanical load of spinning the fan from the engine. It places an additional draw on the electrical system, but this is a more efficient means of spinning a fan, and it has a smaller impact on engine drag.

What is the purpose of a fan clutch?

Fan Clutches are ‘fluid’ coupling devices that provide air flow through the radiator by using the water pump shaft to power the fan blade. When the pump is cool or at normal operating temperature, the fan clutch will partially disengage.

How does a viscous fan clutch work?

How Does a Viscous Fan Drive Work? In a viscous drive, the main shaft turns at RPM proportional to the engine speed, while the drive housing attached to the engine fan maintains a separate speed, set by the electronic engine control module. In other words: The fan clutch speed is independent from the engine’s RPM.

What is a viscous fan?

Viscous fan couplings are located between the water pump pulley and the radiator. They: Control fan speeds to aid engine cooling. Aid in the efficiency of the engine by engaging the fan, when necessary. Reduce load on the engine.

Do electric fans need a shroud?

The first thing we want to make sure is that you actually have a fan shroud. If you rely on a belt-driven fan for engine cooling, a fan shroud is a must to pull the air through the radiator. Without a shroud, air will take the path of least resistance, pulling air from over and under the radiator instead of through it.

Should radiator fans push or pull PC?

fans should be blowing into the radiator, not sucking from radiator. So always push.

How do you diagnose a bad fan clutch?

To confirm the diagnosis, start with this simple test: Spin the fan as hard as you can on an engine that has not been started that day. If the fan rotates more than five times, you can bet the clutch is bad. You should feel some resistance and the fan may spin up to three times, depending on the ambient temperature.

Do automatic transmissions have a clutch fan?

Automatic transmissions don’t have a clutch; instead, they have a torque converter.

How much is a fan clutch?

Radiator Fan Clutch Replacement Cost – RepairPal Estimate. The average cost for radiator fan clutch replacement is between $253 and $372. Labor costs are estimated between $84 and $106 while parts are priced between $170 and $266.

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