Opinions on clutch fan vs electric

[Jersthecool]

Currently have an sr20 in my car with a stock ka rad with hoses fitting to an sr the top hose was being held on by zipties so it didn't hit into the clutch fan. Anyways I've decided to take everything apart and pull my engine to redo some gaskets and stuff and when it goes back in it's gonna have a proper sr rad but I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the clutch fan and throw a shroud on or if I should go electric. Any opinions/experiences with either?

Also does anyone have any advice for things to replace or check while it's easy to access with the engine out? Thanks :bigok:

[frizzle]

I've had both, and Ive never had a problem with either one. I live in AZ and drive my car almost everyday.

[S-Nation S13]

Personal preference ..it's up to you

[xpinoyxmk]

Go to the junkyard and get a taurus fan for $15.

Just sayin...

[pacotaco345]

or altima fans.. I run them to a 2 speed switch in my car, never had a problem. I live in the desert part of socal

[colombianbryan]

i hear fan clutch is better in vise versa. you can always do altima fans from frsport for about 180 new or go to a junk yard and pull them there. run a nismo thermostat and you should have no problems with either!

[future]

I noticed that the clutch fan was cooler then when I had a electric fan. So I went back to clutch fan and I'd never go back

[andrew600]

im a very heavy offroader, and 99% of us use elec fans.
it pushes more air for when you arent moving as fast as driving down the road.

[killer240]

RB25 clutch fan

[Boost_Fiend]

you will be faster with electric fans ;)

[Tearlessj]

Clutch fan, cools way better than my altima setup. Reliable and no wiring too.

[fliprayzin240sx]

OEM clutch fan w/ shroud > any electric fan here. I tried all kinds of E-fans on my SR, shit would creep up to 100 degree while stuck in traffic and AC on. Go out drifting and I'll be out there no more than 10 mins and my shit will be pegged at 100. Slapped the stockers back on...never had an issue again. I'd go out on track for 45 mins or so and shit would barely hit 90.

[mattack69]

I guess it's just personal preference. If you have a good shroud you should be set. I went dual fans and added some deflection shields where the air box use to be. Works for me both daily and 4 back to back laps at Nurburgring without raising the temps. There are a bunch of these "VS" threads man, access your needs then go from there. If you are interested in a dual fan set up with controller I did a write-up http://zilvia.net/f/chat/258542-mishimoto-fan-shroud-kit-review.html#post4093049

[chiboy002]

like killer said
rb25/26 fan set up is so damn effective

fan clutches are self regulating, they change speed as necessary, whereas with a controller you need to do shit to get it to run on its own

as well as its much more reliable to have a mechanical set up rather than an electrical

[andrew600]

if you set up elc fan correctly they work wonderfully and will never give you issues of not cooling. im not saying they are better or start vs, but as long as you do it right you wont have a problem. but if you just throw some fans in without knowledge of how it works or what temps you should be at or why you need to set the fan at certain temps then you will have some problems.

[tac 1]

Clutch fan + shroud. No wiring, no switch to turn on, no controllers. My sr over heated 2x and drained my bat couple of times because I forgot to turn off/on my e fan. But that was my fault, like they said if u have the right set up u wont have problem with e fans.

[Edwin562]

neer had issues with my e-fans. daily and tracked a few times... most i have seen hit was 190 at the track during the summer.

[chiboy002]

if you set up elc fan correctly they work wonderfully and will never give you issues of not cooling. im not saying they are better or start vs, but as long as you do it right you wont have a problem. but if you just throw some fans in without knowledge of how it works or what temps you should be at or why you need to set the fan at certain temps then you will have some problems.
yeah but most people usually don't look into this which is what ultimately causes their lack of quality

if everyone wants to spit out numbers
my shit stays at 183* on track, stock ka w/ clutch fan

thats street temps

[battle_240sx]

i run both on my car. I've never had to turn on my e-fans. with my koyo rad my car will see 175 after very hard driving at the track and thats running water and tiny bit a of water wetter. ill turn them on from time to time just to make sure they still work.

[nismo 240sx]

i run two altima fans with no issue in my car i run one in the winter and two in the summer...i have both set at high

[GroundPerformance]

Here's my take between the 2 fan IMO..

Clutch FAN - Simple and Reliable. Period!

Electric FAN - Cleaner engine bay by providing more room "done right" and should be a slightly easier on the motor.

[blueshark123]

i run two altima fans with no issue in my car i run one in the winter and two in the summer...i have both set at high
What do you mean by 2? Its not really considered 2 since they are already together unless u actually have 4 fans in total

[andrew600]

What do you mean by 2? Its not really considered 2 since they are already together unless u actually have 4 fans in total
trolling post is trolling.

[nathanong87]

I use stock fan and shroud with pink godzira special cut out

[OBEEWON]

Shrouded E-Fan works good. Ran it for years. But on my RB it just wouldn't cut it. Had dual E-fans and it just would not stay cool unless I drifted with my hood off.

On my SR I went back to a stock cooling jam and I would get tired before my car got hot.

[!Zar!]

If you are running an sr: oem shroud with either a ka or an rb clutch fan.

DONE.

Also run the under tray. That came stock on these cars for a reason.

[Highway Riding]

I have clutch fan (import intelligence did my swap and advised) and 7k+ miles and the gauge hasn't changed it's position when it's warmed up since the summer... always just before the middle!

[!Zar!]

Never trust the stock gauge. Only time it works is to tell you that you are fucked.

Eff why eye

[Highway Riding]

Never trust the stock gauge. Only time it works is to tell you that you are fucked.

Eff why eye

Interesting! I figured it would slightly rise if trouble was brewing.. What's recommended for monitoring?

[leung]

Interesting! I figured it would slightly rise if trouble was brewing.. What's recommended for monitoring?

Aftermarket water temp gauge. Far more accurate.

As far as clutch vs. electric, as someone else said: clutch will always be problem-free and reliable while e-fans can be reliable if set up right but the main benefit is probably just a cleaner look. I still use the clutch fan, i think it looks nice with the fan shroud and I dont have to deal with anything. Meh.

This debate happens every few months ._.

[Boost_Fiend]

doesn't the clutch fan create alot of unnecessary drag on the motor. it being a fan that is attached to the motor. idk. i think it is a no brainer. i dont think you can find a car on the road these days that use a clutch fan. it just isn't efficient. just wire up some fans to relays, wire that to switch on with the ignition and you are good to go.

[!Zar!]

Your point?

E fans put more of a strain on the alternator, which in turn requires more power from the engine.

Same shit.

Either way, it isn't noticeable. Who cares what a dyno sheet says.

[chiboy002]

the reason they take away the clutch fan on newer cars is because all car makers are about packing a whole bunch of shit into a tiny space. engine bays are getting smaller and smaller, and being filled with unnecessary crap, so a clutch fan takes so much room away from that. You can easily move the engine up 3-4 inches with an Efan in place, or the rad support 3-4 inches back.

and like Zar said, the drag from the efan is so minimal, just like A/C compressors

i highly doubt anyone has every been able to do some high hp shit from just removing a/c or clutch fan

[Highway Riding]

Aftermarket water temp gauge. Far more accurate.

As far as clutch vs. electric, as someone else said: clutch will always be problem-free and reliable while e-fans can be reliable if set up right but the main benefit is probably just a cleaner look. I still use the clutch fan, i think it looks nice with the fan shroud and I dont have to deal with anything. Meh.

This debate happens every few months ._.

Gotcha thx..

[xSoCalxRiderx125]

I have dual efans and Want to trade for a clutch fan and shroud horribly. My wiring on my efans is janky due to wiring them drunk and in a hurry. I miss the satisfaction of knowing a mechanical fan can't just shut off randomly on you in 5 o'clock traffic going southbound on the 15 in the fast lane and having to stress getting your car all the way over to the left side of the freeway so you can shut your car off with every asshole driving blocking your every move while you watch your temp gauge climb like fucking spiderman :thumbdown: <<< worse day of my life....Clutch fan all day. So over efans...

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[SLiDe_WaYz]

Can you use a KA clutch fan on a sr with a sr fan shroud?

[xSoCalxRiderx125]

Tried using a ka fan on my sr. Sat way to close to the motor and was hitting some wires so I put some small washers behind the fan to push it out a little but not sure if it will clear the fan shroud. I would assume not since the ka fan sits like shit but who knows

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[SLiDe_WaYz]

Well I have a SR fan, but I have no shroud. I'm using dual e fans with a aluminum shroud and dif fan controller. I would like to switch to the clutch fan and shroud. If the KA fan shroud will work I'd rather use that.

[CamryOnBronze]

I had the same issues with e-fans and wiring them really poorly. I'm sure they are fine if they are installed correctly and use a thermostatic switch, but I'm hooked on the clutch fan now. It's nice not having worry about it at all, even if e-fans make the bay look a bit better (assuming the front of your engine is clean.)

[dreamin240sx]

with a ka you barely need fans at all i got an aluminum 2 row rad and put two electric fans on it and they never kicked on but twice. now i pulled the fans out cause the wires got ripped out of them somehow? anyways i havent been running any fans and ive never jumped a degree.

[Future240]

Never trust the stock gauge. Only time it works is to tell you that you are fucked.

Eff why eye

Yeap, three temps Cold, Operating temp, Blown Head gasket

Well I have a SR fan, but I have no shroud. I'm using dual e fans with a aluminum shroud and dif fan controller. I would like to switch to the clutch fan and shroud. If the KA fan shroud will work I'd rather use that.

I am pretty sure that with SR's you have to use the SR shroud corresponding to the type of SR you have. S13 Sr, S13 Sr shroud etc. as the fan position is not the same for the S13/14 SR's, KA.

[tinys s14]

Clutch fan FTW

[Chay G]

i got my fans from a mk4 jetta, ther are both dual speed, at high speed temp goes down normal when on a stop

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/chuydelagarza/pinpon/27122010677.jpg

[aznfab213]

I am currently running altima fans and using a dif fan controller to control it. No problems whatsoever.

[SLiDe_WaYz]

Yeap, three temps Cold, Operating temp, Blown Head gasket



I am pretty sure that with SR's you have to use the SR shroud corresponding to the type of SR you have. S13 Sr, S13 Sr shroud etc. as the fan position is not the same for the S13/14 SR's, KA.

What If I have a S13 SR in a S13. BUT I'm using a S14 aluminum radiator.

[KAT-PWR]

Been running with the clutch fan after e-fan head-ache. Keeps my KA-T cool all day, any conditions. Sitting in traffic or running it like a scalded dog.

OEM Clutch + Shroud > *

[skyline084]

I have electric.. but I'd rather have the clutch type. Too bad i threw them out

[mkezzo16]

Efans are definitely overrated. I switched back to a clutchfan. My boy was running flex a lite on his rb and went back to a stock radiator and did a clutch fan and is no longer having cooling issues..n his fans used to sound like a dam plane.

[xSoCalxRiderx125]

Clutch fans are just too reliable to walk away from.

[josephin510]

Drove for months with no fans at all with my Sr. Summer came and slapped in a bmw e fan and shroud. Worked flawlessly in traffic and at the track.

[Howie Felter Snatch]

If you want to properly keep the car cooled, the OEM solution is by far the best and most reliable. :boink:

WIN = Fan Shroud + Fan Blade + Working Fan Clutch (Disengages at higher RPMS!)

Nothing is more reliable and the OEM solution has the highest CFM. Not to mention its the cleanest and cheapest solution as well.
(No wiring of any sort and its FREE since it comes with your car already lol)

You would be silly to use anything else, unless you have a RB or 2JZ and space/room is an issue.

[Future240]

What If I have a S13 SR in a S13. BUT I'm using a S14 aluminum radiator.

Not sure on that one. Codyace would probably know.

[foxystyle]

Clutch fan is the money. Until it begins to wear and you need a new one. Which happened to me, that's why your car heats up in stopped traffic. If only hadn't been so damn pissed that one day I hacked up the fan shrould and threw it away.

[Bunnywith240]

I'm running a Mishimoto rad, OEM fan with shroud, OEM thermo. Runs like a boss. The only reason to go electric is if you need the space.

[xSoCalxRiderx125]

What If I have a S13 SR in a S13. BUT I'm using a S14 aluminum radiator.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the only difference is the position of the overflow nipple. S14 radiators point right and s13s point left. Other than that I can't see why there would be a significant difference.

[Walperstyle]

get the correct radiator for the engine

[andrew600]

everyone thats done e-fans and had issues has not done them right. its nothing to do with the fan. e-fans work great.

[c72c]

Shrouded E-Fan works good. Ran it for years. But on my RB it just wouldn't cut it. Had dual E-fans and it just would not stay cool unless I drifted with my hood off.


:werd: We just found out this weekend that our fans weren't quite as good as we had hoped. We're running dual flex-a-lite fans with the shroud wired to the MS3 to turn on at a certain temp.
The heat from the header makes the bay a little too hot, so after 4 or 5 laps, we have to cool down. I've never had an n/a need to cool down before. :(
Clutch fan is out of the question right now though. RB-S14-Greddy radiator... our fans are about an inch from the pulleys.

[Pinggg]

everyone thats done e-fans and had issues has not done them right. its nothing to do with the fan. e-fans work great.

i second that ^^

i have a KOYO radiator, ISIS dual 12' fans with shroud, ISIS colder thermostat.

car ran great for close to a year with many track events and daily driving with no over heating issues.

[San Diego Kouki]

sup everyone. ive had issues with my fan clutch freezing up in my kade, my water temp was okay but it really restricted my speed and acceleration. since then ive thought about an electric fan so i wouldnt have that issue again but it seems like fan clutch problems are rare judging by this thread... and i heard a single e fan for a stock ka works fine and that late model s14 will automatical switch thefan speeds when needed. how much of that is true?

[Jersthecool]

Just saw this thread was brought up again but some time ago I decided to go with electric fans. I bought a mishimoto rad and shroud with 2 electric fans and a nismo colder thermostat and was just wondering what would be the best way to wire them up? I'm wayyy over my budget and can't afford a fan controller so what would be the next best thing?

[Boost_Fiend]

wire up to the ignition with relays. there is a wire diagram that shows exactly how its done just search.

[prowess]

beat way without spending money is to wire one up to the a/c condensor fan, and one to a switch.