How do I know if my fan clutch is working properly?
- Thread starter sytyfreak
- Start date
Thrillhouse
New member
When the fan clutch in my blazer died it got stuck in high speed, so basically no matter how hot the engine was it sounded like a jet engine.
I would just check to make sure it switches speeds ok, you should be able to tell when it goes from high to low or low back to high just by the amount of air blowing around the engine and how loud the fan is.
HTH
I would just check to make sure it switches speeds ok, you should be able to tell when it goes from high to low or low back to high just by the amount of air blowing around the engine and how loud the fan is.
HTH
ItsMyTy
Life is beter at 25 PSI
The most common failure of a fan clutch causes it to be stuck in fully engaged mode all the time, creating a lot of noise and too much airflow/cooling across the radiator.
The clutch has a thermal coil that changes how the silicon fluid flows in the clutch above approximately 160 deg F, increasing fan RPM. If the engine's really hot (212+ deg F) the clutch will be almost fully engaged and the fan will be really loud.
You might have a fan clutch problem, but it's unlikely. What are the symptoms of your overheating?
The clutch has a thermal coil that changes how the silicon fluid flows in the clutch above approximately 160 deg F, increasing fan RPM. If the engine's really hot (212+ deg F) the clutch will be almost fully engaged and the fan will be really loud.
You might have a fan clutch problem, but it's unlikely. What are the symptoms of your overheating?
rockvillespeed
Member
actually, they have a finite lifespan and will eventually fail.
so, its common.
anyway, as said above, they often fail by locking up, pulling crazy air and noisy.
mine did a month ago.
its easy test.
when the truck is fully warmed up, it should be fairly hard to spin the fan by hand - obv, with the engine off.
when cold, it should turn very freely.
so, its common.
anyway, as said above, they often fail by locking up, pulling crazy air and noisy.
mine did a month ago.
its easy test.
when the truck is fully warmed up, it should be fairly hard to spin the fan by hand - obv, with the engine off.
when cold, it should turn very freely.
Lynn D. Brown
New member
Guys,
Don't these newer clutch fans work like the old ones used to ? This is the 1st one I've had in ~ 20 years.
The old ones were mostly just mechanical, and would gradually slip and eventually stop as RPM increased, since U didn't need them at high speed. It was an attempt to save High End engine HP.
Those usually failed when they started slipping at lower RPMs where U needed the cooling. So, U could turn on the engine and watch to see if the fan turned at idle and as U revved the engine.
So maybe the newer ones are different ?
Don't these newer clutch fans work like the old ones used to ? This is the 1st one I've had in ~ 20 years.
The old ones were mostly just mechanical, and would gradually slip and eventually stop as RPM increased, since U didn't need them at high speed. It was an attempt to save High End engine HP.
Those usually failed when they started slipping at lower RPMs where U needed the cooling. So, U could turn on the engine and watch to see if the fan turned at idle and as U revved the engine.
So maybe the newer ones are different ?
rockvillespeed
Member
they're filled with silicone fluid - much like our xfer case, and the exact same idea - heat the fluid, it gets thick, transfers more motion
Lynn D. Brown
New member
OK, that answers that. They R not like the old Mechanical ones which reacted to engine RPM - they react to Temp instead. Some more High Falutin' technology.
spooldup
Super Member
The way i checked mine was as the engine idled i took a stick and was able to stop the fan. That's how i knew it was bad and also my truck overheated one day while idling. I was told that you should not be able to stop the fan. I went to the store and picked up a severe duty fan and have had no problems.