Super noob electric fan question

[240love]

Ok this might be a super noob question and might get flamed but i thought i'd give it a shot. How do you guys mount your electric fans to your rad. When i got my Efans they came with these zip tie looking things but wasnt sure how they went. Are you supposed to put them through the fins? any input is appreciated and pics would be awsome. Thanks guys:rolleyes:

[MURPHY]

si threw the fins

[srgabe]

im using the flex-a-lite dual ones...i had to lightly cut the botton end so it will clear the bottom radiator after..stick those zip tie things LIGHTLY threw the fins of your radiator and there you go..tighten them up Firmly wire up and go...aloha

[AznDrftr.]

^yep, zipties are you friends. Go thru the fins, it wont hurt it. And then there you go. Some have little mounts to where you can clip them or mount them up i believe.

But nonetheless, zipties.

[kandyflip445]

Ziiiiiiiiiiiiptiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiies.

[240love]

ok kool...thanks guys thas how i have them on my stock rad and didnt care much about it but im getting an aftermarket one and wasnt sure if it damaged its function in anyway

[victorw210]

if you run electric fans you can remove that gay fan on the pulley right?

[MURPHY]

lol yea


fdasfas

[ixfxi]

if you run electric fans you can remove that gay fan on the pulley right?

it depends what you want to run

its not a gay fan, its a clutch fan. when electric fans fail, which they sometimes do - a clutch fan is your friend. when a clutch fan fails, which they sometimes do, an electric fan is your friend.

basically, any fan is better than NO fan. personally, i like electric fans, but clutch fans are very reliable and durable, they just take a fair amount of space. however, clutch fans flow a shitload of air and are not too much of a parasitic loss.

the other thing i like about electric fans is they only turn on when necessary. a clutch fan will keep your motor at a consistent temperature, a e-fan setup is typically more peaky since it takes a certain temperature to activate the relay.

again, its important to know how the systems work - dont just follow the trend.

ps: i mounted my electric fans by drilling into the solid aluminum ribs on the sides of my koyo and then mounting directly to those. i dont like putting anything through the radiator fins, its unnecessary stress and can eventually cause failure.

[kandyflip445]

My clutch fans were never reliable. Mainly due to the fan clutch itself. I went through 2 of them and decided to go with an e-fan setup. But that's just what worked for me.

[Fries]

For a daily driver a clutch fan would be more realistic since it keeps the motor at a constant temp, correct?

But, the electric fan wouldn't wait till a rediculously high temp so it would actually be beneficial since it's not running 24/7 right? Does the electric fan have any issues dealing with winter months?

[ixfxi]

Like I said people, one is not better than the other.. they're both good.

Electric fans dont turn on at ridiculously high temps, they turn on at whatever temp YOU configure them to turn on at. A simple thermoswitch will do the trick, and 190F is a common temp for most thermoswitches.

Clutch fans last a long time too. I had one for near 140k before it seized, and that just means it was spinning at max speed which meant the motor was super cool.

The problem with electric fans is that most people dont wire them up properly, so expect all types of bullshit electrical issues like undersized wires, no fuse, improper switch setup.. and tons of other crap.

People are idiots when it comes to electrical.

[tt99ol]

if your dead set on the e-fans you could always make some brackets to mount them to the stock locations on the sides of the radiator, plus its way more fulfilling to make your own parts

[projectRDM]

The main issue with electric fans I see is people don't use any kind of shroud or do any ductwork for them. If the air that's being generated isn't being targeted at the radiator, you're just wasting time and energy. Therefore a clutch fan with a shroud is a much better example of proper cooling because it's directional. But, either one is fine if installed correctly.

[ixfxi]

Yep, shroud is necessary. I've read some criticism of the FAL dual 12" fans that I have, and personally I think they work like a charm. I have no clue why some people complain about them. The only problem, if anything, is that they are very noisy.. but who the fuck cares. I dont mind knowing that my fans are on!

[mike019]

The main issue with electric fans I see is people don't use any kind of shroud or do any ductwork for them. If the air that's being generated isn't being targeted at the radiator, you're just wasting time and energy. Therefore a clutch fan with a shroud is a much better example of proper cooling because it's directional. But, either one is fine if installed correctly.

but i thought fans were either pullers or pushers and do not need air to be directed anywhere as long as you place them at the proper spot (pullers behind the radiator and pushers infront of the radiator) and....
the shroud does the job of preventing recirculation of air around the fan and direct the air through the core and prevent it from coming back around and through the fan again, as well as protect you from the fan blades

please correct me if i am wrong bc i do not want to be giving out wrong information, and may also like to have the right information...

[projectRDM]

You're correct, but think about it for a second. Even mounted close to the radiator the air is not necessarily directional, it's blowing into, across, and around the radiator because you're also driving the car forward and forcing it to dissipate faster. With a shroud in place the air is contained and go only go one place, through the radiator, because it's not allowed to circulate past the edges of it. That goes for both electric of clutch, the OE setup uses a single shroud for both fans, keeping all the airflow focused. Removing that dissipates some of the air. For a daily driver with an OE gauge you'll never notice it, but use an accurate temp gauge and you can see a few degrees difference under extreme conditions.

[Tenchuu]

or you could be like me and mount a pusher on the front side of the radiator. insta shroud.

[mRclARK1]

I just ran one large efan on my Koyo... and popped my clutch fan on during hot days/track events, with no duct work whatsoever. Worked great. Never got into the danger zone with temps at all, BUT I would still recommend some form of ducting/shroud, even with a Koyo or other rad.

I was just lucky. lol

[mike019]

thank you r240na you have increased my knowledge and i really appreciate it... +1 rep for you = )

[ixfxi]

do yourselves all a favor...........

install a REAL temperature gauge and go fuck around with your clutch or electrical fans. you'll quickly get a better understanding how all this shit works, because you'll see what happens instantly.

the OE gauge is a bunch of bullshit. even in my wifes miata i have a quality vdo water temp gauge.

[mRclARK1]

I had one in my car. Would never build a car without one.