Clutch fans

scooterfrog wrote: A quick search of the BMW forums will turn up multiple accounts of the fans on the V8s locking up and exploding (speculation is that this is due to bad motor mounts allowing the overspeeded fan to hit the radiator). This sends shrapnel all over the place, including in at least one documented case through the hood.

this on e36 as well. removing the stock fan is called a fdm fan delete mod. most already have an electric aux fan so people just add water wetter. In reply to 02Pilot:

Streetwiseguy wrote: Iff'n y'all go back into the olden days, say when I was a teenager and 280Z and 710 Datsuns were new, it was not unusual at all for fan clutches to seize in the "on" position. It was also not unusual for the force of the drawing air to pull the fan and clutch off the shaft of the water pump and fire them through the radiator. I have always recommended strongly to change them when they fail.

Yeah, this was about the time BL was pressing on clutches on their Triumphs etc. When they inevitably fell off, it could be very exciting.

The guy who bought my 2002 removed the electric fan and the bracket I made to mount it and put the stock fan back on. I think he didn't want to mess with the wiring and figuring out the fan control scheme.

In the Mini world it seems people really like to put the fan on backwards and then their little cars like to overheat. The funniest part is that then the "experts" try to tell them that the fan is blowing air the wrong direction since it is on backwards when in reality the air still goes the same direction, just that the fan is way less efficient so there is less airflow.

I guess I am a fan of fans more so than a fan of clutches.

I thought we already had a clutch fan discussion. I mentioned that I'm a fan of the factory AE101 clutch, and I think the pressure plate is the best part of the set.

If I ever own an e36 again, the first thing I'm going to do is pull the clutch fan and replace it with electric fans.

02Pilot wrote: A quick search of the BMW forums will turn up multiple accounts of the fans on the V8s locking up and exploding (speculation is that this is due to bad motor mounts allowing the overspeeded fan to hit the radiator). This sends shrapnel all over the place, including in at least one documented case through the hood.

On the E36 the fan hitting the radiator can also be caused by a split transmission mount (and rather aggressive driving.) My fan clutch still works just fine.

Update:

I took the clutch fan and fan off Wed or Thursday. Filled up today before going to school and refilled when I came home at the same station. Before I used to struggle to get 19-19.5 MPG. I traveled 68.1 miles to school and back. I refilled with 2.95 gallons. That equates to 23.1 MPG.

In the tow package on my Liberty(KJ) with added cooling. They put a clutch fan on along with the stock electric fan. I removed the clutch fan and in 72K miles it never overheated Th fan is stored down in the celler. anybody want one ?

In reply to HStockSolo:

I remember a being told about a car that wasn't thought out properly. (No, it wasn't mine.) When revved, the engine torqued forward just slightly and it was enough for the clutch fan to make mince meant of the radiator. Mince meat if you like aluminum in your meat.

The clutch fan on my 1989 Toyota pickup blew apart on me one day as I was leaving work. I was probably going all of 15 mph in the parking lot. It did indeed perforate the hood and leave an exit wound. On that truck, I found it amusing instead of bothersome.

I have to admit I don't understand clutch fans versus electric. Why not use electric fans on everything? It allows for more versatility in radiator mounting, the fan runs when its needed and only when its needed and they're quieter. Is it cost?

Keith wrote: I have to admit I don't understand clutch fans versus electric. Why not use electric fans on everything? It allows for more versatility in radiator mounting, the fan runs when its needed and only when its needed and they're quieter. Is it cost?

I suspect it's mechanical reliability (the irony of this statement, given the subject of this thread, is not lost on me). Change the clutch once every 100k miles or so and you never have to worry about blown fuses, motor failure, corroded connections, bad resistor packs, or anything else.

I have no problem with clutched fans. Never had one lock up, but then I change the clutch whenever I change the radiator (this on various BMWs over the years). The fan's coming out anyway, so it's no extra labor and minimal cost.

FWD forced the electric fan to the forefront....Then some engineer somewhere pushed the envelope..... And now we have electric fans on most everything.

alfadriver wrote: yes, Assuming you are talking about engine driven fans, and not people who are fans of clutches.

Now fans of both clutches and Kasey Kahne can rejoice!

Keith wrote: The clutch fan on my 1989 Toyota pickup blew apart on me one day as I was leaving work. I was probably going all of 15 mph in the parking lot. It did indeed perforate the hood and leave an exit wound. On that truck, I found it amusing instead of bothersome. I have to admit I don't understand clutch fans versus electric. Why not use electric fans on everything? It allows for more versatility in radiator mounting, the fan runs when its needed and only when its needed and they're quieter. Is it cost?

With a properly designed clutch fan, they run only as needed, run off of a belt that already exists and hardly ever break. Cheaper and simpler, although I presume it's getting closer now as electronics get cheaper and cheaper and become more prevalent in engine compartments.