clutch fan vs. e fans?

[peetiewonder]

so my clutch on my clutch fan is stuck on my 91 kade, and im trying to decide whether to make the jump to electric fans, or if i am just goin to replace the clutch fan and keep on goin.

what i want to know is what is going to be the most efficient cooling wise in the long run and what is going to give me the least amount of problems. I also am curious as to what i would need to do to hook up the electric fans such that they operated on their own and i wouldnt have to hit a switch to turn em on.

constructive comments appreciated.

[revat619]

Stock clutch fan with the shroud. Electric fans aren't necessary. Unless you were having a space issue (i.e. an RB, LSX, VQ, VH swap) electric fans aren't needed.

[punxva]

yeah i am only using an e-fan because my clutchfan was broken when i bought the car years ago and i just didnt feel like putting the stock back on, if your going to run one though, make sure you make a good shroud for it

[DDSR240]

how many times does this get covered a week? Why not ask somthing interesting like welded vs lsd?:madfawk:

[peetiewonder]

:bigok:cuz i already hav vlsd. i searched "fan" and didnt find many straight answers in reguards to teh specific questions i asked

[nismo240sxdrifter]

a clutch fan would be fine but I like my e-fans because it allows for a lot less hassle when working on the car and just gives you a lot more access to things.

[projectRDM]

:bigok:cuz i already hav vlsd. i searched "fan" and didnt find many straight answers in reguards to teh specific questions i asked

You fail at searching. There's a two page thread in here about fans that's been ongoing for the past three weeks.

[4x4le]

Not having the clutch fan frees up power and makes the engine rev easier. It should also yield some extra gas millage. Some people will argue this with theory, and that theory is that they dont free up any power because it will take that much more strain on the alternator in order to spin the fan. That theory is 100% true, however your fan does not actually need to constantly be on either where if you have a clutch fan it will always be on. My e fans (2 10") hardly ever kick on even with the thermo switch on its most sensitive setting. They never need to kick on when im driving because enough air is already moving past the rad. So.... you dont have the parasitic loss from the fan. They only kick on when the car is stting idling. As soon as I start driving they shortly after words shut off.
If you go with e fans, just get a $30 thermo switch. You can get them through summit and are easy to install.

[revat619]

Not having the clutch fan frees up power and makes the engine rev easier. It should also yield some extra gas millage. Some people will argue this with theory, and that theory is that they dont free up any power because it will take that much more strain on the alternator in order to spin the fan. That theory is 100% true, however your fan does not actually need to constantly be on either where if you have a clutch fan it will always be on. My e fans (2 10") hardly ever kick on even with the thermo switch on its most sensitive setting. They never need to kick on when im driving because enough air is already moving past the rad. So.... you dont have the parasitic loss from the fan. They only kick on when the car is stting idling. As soon as I start driving they shortly after words shut off.
If you go with e fans, just get a $30 thermo switch. You can get them through summit and are easy to install.

The amount of supposed power this frees up is negligible at best.

[4x4le]

true, but there is no sence in having a fan going when its not needed.

[let5l1de]

All fans of either electric or mechanical driven means are parasites of power/work. Factors may be hp consumption, electric power consumption which may eat up hp as well, weight of either mechanical or electric fan setup, limits of safe mechanical fan rpm, and ultimately engine temperature, driving conditions, coolant system design, and so on...

If its all stock and in good condition, IMO leave it alone.

If you need to replace that clutch, figure the costs of installing an e fan and components such as wire, connectors, shrink tube and wire protector, solder iron and e solder, e thermostatic switch, relays (if needed), shroud (recommended if not using OEM) and time/knowledge of conversion...

It just takes a little $ and time to install an electric fan conversion right.

Personally I like the use of electric fan(s) although oem quality clutch and fan setup may last longer...


~mario

[peetiewonder]

well i went to pick a part today and picked up both an e fan setup and a newer/working clutch and fan, so i am gonna look into what will go into installing the e fan setup, but as far as ease goes, i am leaning towards the clutch fan.

On the other hand, Does anyone have any recommendations as far as installing a maxima dual electric fan setup? i picked up some maxima dual fans out of the junkyard too so i am going to experiment with the setup but am unsure about what i need as far as fan control units and what the options are... i am still searching too so save the "go search newb" burns kay thanks