Replacement of cooling fan???

[mike91]

Rick -
You didn't purchase the "Black Magic Fan" by flex-a-lite right? Also, what engine upgrades have you done to your explorer thus far: MAFS, headers, KKM, etc. I purchased the Black Magic two weeks ago, but had trouble removing the fan clutch so I am in no rush to put mines in - maybe this week if I feel like it. Anyhow, the BM fan is supposed to be good for a V8 producing 250hp and 215hp w/AC working. I just wanted to see how much hp you probably have in comparison with mine just in case.
Thanks

 

[Rick]

Mike, I'm sorry to say, but yes it was the Black Magic. I'm not making any where near the power it's supposedly rated for. I have a cat back exahust, bored throttle body, and larger MAS. Not enough to make 55hp over the stock Explorer's output that's for sure.

I have the 175 which is the unit Flex-a-lite specs on their appliction chart. It's a direct fit for the 5.0 Mustang and the 4.0 Explorer.

I'm going to call Flex-a-lite Tuesday morning and give them an ear full.

Paul, I have had other vehicles with stock electric fans. No problem. My biggest question though is the deal with overheating on the freeway. How do the factory units cut out while cruising at freeway speeds?

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Rick Horwitz
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com

 

[j]

Golly, that's not good. I don't have overheating probs (yet). I have found that 40 Below from Problend cools me down about 25 degrees (I use it with a mix of antifreeze and water which dilutes its properties some) and I run a "full range" thermostat. I also run all the other Problend products, which are supposed to and from a recent article in Four Wheeler do cool the engine off by about 40 to 50 degrees. I ran that way in Moab and didn't overheat even with the air conditioner on sometimes.

When Rick and I stopped we would sometimes raise out hoods just to let the hot air rise out.

But in another vehicle, in the summer getting the heat off the engine means I either drill holes in the hood and mount a cowl induction scoop, so it sucks more air at speed, but let's hot air rise out through the hood while rock crawling. Louvers have also been suggested. Also suggested is mounting a small pusher fan under the louvers to speed getting the heat out. The engine bay heats up so much it has boiled the oil out of three coils so far...I remounted the coil higher away from the manifold and put a layer of insulation on the bottom of it. But we still need to get the heat out of the engine compartment or I will eventually boil another one.

That's unfortunate about the electric fan...I wanted the added HP and advertised cooling effects. Bummer.

[This message has been edited by j (edited 07-04-1999).]

 

[bachelor25]

Rick,

Just a suggestion to help make your electric fan project more of a success. Try a bottle of Red Line "Water Wetter". It's an additive for your coolant that reduces temperatures up to 30F. I've heard many good reviews of the product by racers and off-roaders. Check out the product at www.redlineoil.com Should help you reduce coolant temperatures while keeping the benefits of having the electric fan.

I personally use Red Line synthetic fluids in most of my drivetrain and have for a decade of vehicles I've owned.

 

[Rick]

Adding a chemical to get my engine temp back to where it was before I added a $200.00 fan doesn't sound like a good idea.

I may use it with my stock fan, but the Electric fan is history.

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Rick Horwitz
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Thanks Rick
I was going to call summit racing and order one tomorrow but you have succesfuly changed my mind. I think instead I will go to a junkyard and get a pusher fan off something to aide cooling while towing and retain the stock fan. Besides, the roaring of the fan is one of my favorite mid size Ford quirks that make them unique

 

[Rick]

I called Flex-a-lite today. They told me to return it to Jegs. He offered no solution just an acknowledgement that the heat in Phoenix overwhelmed the fans ability to cool.

In order to return it to Jegs I had to get his name and extention number, because Jegs will only refund on new unopened merchandise.

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Rick Horwitz
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com

 

[Roy O.]

Rick, that is a real bummer on the electric Flex-A-Lite, and I guess that helps with my fan decision. I was contemplating the electric vrs. the Flex-A-Lite Aluminum serpentine fan offered by Summit Racing. The aluminum serpentine fan will flatten out at high speeds causing less drag for increased HP and less water pump fatigue. Plus the fan won't crack like the stock plastic ones do.
What is the stock fan dimension? They sell various sizes, 18"?

Thanks, and hope this offers some compromise.
Roy

 

[rpenner54]

This guy seems to know a lot about engines and stuff. Dead Link Removed He has a part about electric fans towards the bottom. It was posted May 25, 1998 so that you can do a find in your browser. I just thought I should pass this on.
Dead Link Removed



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Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[zippee]

Rick, was the polarity correct? Was the fan running in the right direction?