Clutch fan vs electric fan

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Clutch fan vs electric fan - 9/5/2005 12:43:21 PM    Pasolo   Posts: 7 Joined: 9/1/2005 Status: offline My next project on my 98 D with the hope of improving the mpg is to remove the belt drive fan which puts tremendous load on the engine, and installing and electric fan has anyone tried this project. Post #: 1

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 9/5/2005 1:31:36 PM    Kensai Posts: 1669 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline My 2000 R/T has the heavy duty cooling package so it comes with both the clutch fan and electric fan. If you plan to get a electric fan, try to get one that can closely matches the diameter of your clutch fan to get the maximum cooling. Otherwise, you can by those flex fan that is belt driven but uses way less power to operate. (in reply to Pasolo) Post #: 2

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 9/5/2005 2:42:15 PM    Pasolo   Posts: 7 Joined: 9/1/2005 Status: offline Thank you for your response. I am aware that I will need to match the diameter of my stock fan as closely as possible, I also think the stock shroud might have to be modified I just hope it’s worth doing. (in reply to Kensai) Post #: 3

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 9/5/2005 3:08:24 PM    Kensai Posts: 1669 Joined: 12/30/2003 From: United States Status: offline Either that or you can mount twin fans from the back or from the front if there is room. When I had my Toyota Truck, I replaced my clutch fan with an electric one. The engine started to overheat. That's when I found out that my electric fan is much smaller than my clutch fan and was not able to do a good job moving air. I think my clutch fan was a 16 inch and my electric was a 12 incher. So I went out and bought a flex fan that is clutchless. The fan blades pitch will change with the increase in rpms so it won't work the engine at higher rpm speeds. But at idle and low rpms, the fan blades pitch more to move more air. This helped my 4 banger out alot in recovering some HP, but I moved my 12 inch fan from the back to the front to assist in the cooling mainly when I use A/C. I just spliced the incoming power to the A/C compressor clutch to power a relay which will turn on/off the electric fan. (in reply to Pasolo) Post #: 4

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 9/6/2005 3:19:21 PM    biggame   Posts: 22 Joined: 5/10/2005 Status: offline I have both types of fans. A friend of mine has the electric fans go out and his A/C didn't work well at all. My advice is to run both! _____________________________ 2003 Durango SLT 4X4 (in reply to Kensai) Post #: 5

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 2/28/2007 4:40:00 PM    fyjimophreak   Posts: 10 Joined: 2/28/2007 Status: offline Did you have any luck finding a kit to swap out the electric for the clutch fan?  I'm looking to do the same thing in my finace's 99 D.  Living in Wisconsin it has a hard time warming up (it just barely gets up to temperature by the time she get's to work) and her mpg is horrible.  I've looked around a little bit to find a kit for her car, but without any luck.  I was reading some of the other posts and I already changed out her water pump (different issue, it was leaking) and the coolant and thermostat so I know those are all good.  If anyone knows where I can get a kit, either specific or generic, I'd appreciate it. _____________________________ Alex 2006 Chevy Silverado Z71 (in reply to Pasolo) Post #: 6

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 2/28/2007 6:26:35 PM    virused   Official Player Hater Posts: 1883 Joined: 2/12/2006 From: myspace.com/06rc Status: offline http://www.socaldakota.com should have everything you need for either project. _____________________________ Chris MODerator 99 Dodge Dakota, 56 Ford F100, 06 Honda RC51 (in reply to fyjimophreak) Post #: 7

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 2/28/2007 11:06:43 PM    fyjimophreak   Posts: 10 Joined: 2/28/2007 Status: offline Thanks! (in reply to virused) Post #: 8

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 2/28/2007 11:25:17 PM    tpetty   Posts: 41 Joined: 2/24/2007 Status: offline do they have an add on electric fan for the earlier durangos ? id love to add a fan as im in AZ and it tends to get hot (in reply to fyjimophreak) Post #: 9

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 2/28/2007 11:56:41 PM    IndyDurango Posts: 762 Joined: 6/24/2006 Status: offline Socaldakota.com as mentioned above sells the Dodge Viper electric fan kit to be used as an add-on for '98/'99 Ds and replacement for '00-03 Ds. Lot's-o-parts, not just drop in, but it does work. It is somewhat pricey and Socaldak has forum reportedly had issues with responsiveness. You may order it now and have to wait and recontact them for a month+ to get it. Seems like it is on back order a lot. IndyDurango _____________________________ - Truck of the Month: 07/07 Dakota-Durango.com; 12/06 DodgeForum.com; 1/06 DurangoClub.com - Durangoer of the Year: 2006 DurangoClub.com - Three Time TotM Nominee: DTW.com (in reply to tpetty) Post #: 10

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 3/1/2007 9:21:13 AM    fyjimophreak   Posts: 10 Joined: 2/28/2007 Status: offline Not to mention, the price of the 'kit' is $440.00  For that price I could install an inverter and an space heater and still spend the rest of the money on the 1-2 mpg that it might save (not that I would b/c it's a stupid idea).  I was hoping to find something for about half of that.  Looks like I will just search for parts, and engineer something up myself.  If anyone knows of something else, I'm all ears.  Thanks again for the help guys. _____________________________ Alex 2006 Chevy Silverado Z71 (in reply to IndyDurango) Post #: 11

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 3/1/2007 11:56:34 AM    virused   Official Player Hater Posts: 1883 Joined: 2/12/2006 From: myspace.com/06rc Status: offline If you find a kit cheaper, that includes everything that the viper kit does, please let us know because I will jump at the chance. _____________________________ Chris MODerator 99 Dodge Dakota, 56 Ford F100, 06 Honda RC51 (in reply to fyjimophreak) Post #: 12

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 3/1/2007 12:05:19 PM    shnormo   Posts: 440 Joined: 3/3/2006 Status: offline First of all the clutch fan is filled with fluid that has a fluctuating viscoisty with temperature.  So usually it is stealing only a little bit of power, not a whole bunch.  Second there are two types of electric fans, helper fans and full blown cooling fans.  So there is a difference.  If you match up the diameter the same, they can still vary greatly on the CFMs they pull.  I went with the plastic fan blade with out a clutch and I prefer it over the electric fan.  The reason behind it is because I'm running a lot of electrical accessories and on a hot day that fan can draw almost up to 20 amps. _____________________________ - Norm Worked as Oil Technican for 3 years Rebuilding 79 Camaro Own 98 Intrepid (in reply to virused) Post #: 13

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 3/1/2007 12:26:02 PM    Mean Green Posts: 3189 Joined: 6/22/2006 From: Reno, NV Status: offline Do a search on viper fan upgrade, You can also use a flexalite but it doesn't pull as many cfm's. _____________________________ 2000 Durango 5.9L SLT+ Flowmaster 40 "Custom" Ram Air 31" BFG AT T/A KO's Bilstein Shocks Hidden Hitch Sirius Satelite Radio E-fan conversion Smittybilt brushguard SSU's (in reply to shnormo) Post #: 14

RE: Clutch fan vs electric fan - 3/1/2007 3:42:38 PM    fyjimophreak   Posts: 10 Joined: 2/28/2007 Status: offline I understand the difference between helper fans and cooling fans.  I just wanted to put something on like what I had on my Camaro, an electric fan that kicks on when the car gets too hot like from sitting in traffic on a hot summer day, and then is off for most of the time when the radiator gets air from going down the road or warming up.  Protection when needed, allow the engine to warm up to temp quick by not haveing a constant breeze, and give a few HP's back to the engine for power and mpg. Also, I did do some searching on this forum before I posted and read about the viscous clutch that these have and I'm very skeptical of the whole idea.  If they are supposed to slip more when it's cold and grip when it's hot (what is it filled with because that goes against all properties of oils and liquids), then why does the fan run just as hard at startup on a -20 day as it does after running errands on a 110 day? (I'm currently in Wisconsin, but previously lived in North Carolina) _____________________________ Alex 2006 Chevy Silverado Z71 (in reply to shnormo) Post #: 15

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