Replacing OEM fan with flex-a-lite fan? (Non electric) | Ford Explorer Forums

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Replacing OEM fan with flex-a-lite fan? (Non electric)

Afboy143

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City, State
Tampa,FL
Year, Model & Trim Level
1999 Ford Explorer Sport
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...&part=FLX-1318&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch

While searching summit I saw this. It replaces that big bulky OEM fan with this light one. Its supposed to push more air and free up hp because its lighter. My question is, is it worth it or to get anything I need to go electric. If its worth it, which fan would I have to buy (Its my understanding our trucks have serpentine driven fans and need a special blade because it runs "backwards?")
 



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I would pass on this one and go electric.

Good luck .......
 






Aldive,

I really would like going electric but the only problem is I have a pretty large audio system and I really would hate if my fans werent cooling my engine properly at times when I am blasting my system. How much power do the fans really use? I saw a thread you posted a while back on installing electric fans, was it worth the money? The only reason I would consider replacing my oem fan is because a light weight one is only $32
 






Afboy143 said:
How much power do the fans really use?

I saw a thread you posted a while back on installing electric fans, was it worth the money?

My fan draws 13.9 amps.

Yes indeed it was worth it.
 






Do you think my audio system will affect the fan system? Is 13.9 amps a lot?
 






Not really -- your alternator puts out like 120 amps or something similar.

-Drew
 






Add up all the amps you draw, and than build on it, no brainer
 






When I added my s/c, I HAD to take out my OEM fan. So I went with the flex fan. My temp gauge used to sit in the middle, and after the fan it sat a little above a 1/4 with a 17" fan. Very easy to put in. Hardest thing was taking the stock fan out. It does lower you temp very good. I'm running a 18 1/2" flex fan without the fan shroud and it's keeping it just as cool. I say go with the flex fan.
 






BeauJ said:
When I added my s/c, I HAD to take out my OEM fan. So I went with the flex fan. My temp gauge used to sit in the middle, and after the fan it sat a little above a 1/4 with a 17" fan. Very easy to put in. Hardest thing was taking the stock fan out. It does lower you temp very good. I'm running a 18 1/2" flex fan without the fan shroud and it's keeping it just as cool. I say go with the flex fan.
What was so diff in removing the OEM fan? with the proper tools takes 5 mins
 






spindlecone said:
What was so diff in removing the OEM fan? with the proper tools takes 5 mins

Well, when you don't have proper wrench, you won't get anywhere.

Second, mine was a pain to get off. With a breaker bar, and me (205 and not weak and another 200 lb friend) we finally got it off. NOT FUN. And I know I'm not the only goddamn person that's had trouble with this :fire: . I've got a few PM's with this specific prob :fire:
 






I was under the assumption that the water temp guage and the oil pressure guage were both dummy guages ?
 






Never heard that one. It fluctuates, so I don't see how it's a "dummy guage". Believe me, I've got mine hot before and it showed it.
 






BeauJ said:
When I added my s/c, I HAD to take out my OEM fan. So I went with the flex fan. My temp gauge used to sit in the middle, and after the fan it sat a little above a 1/4 with a 17" fan. Very easy to put in. Hardest thing was taking the stock fan out. It does lower you temp very good. I'm running a 18 1/2" flex fan without the fan shroud and it's keeping it just as cool. I say go with the flex fan.

So you just replaced the stock fan with a flex fan, no electric? Would I gain any hp ?
 






Afboy143 said:
So you just replaced the stock fan with a flex fan, no electric? Would I gain any hp ?

No but it keeps the engine temp cooler. You're not going to gain 100 hp by going to an electric fan.
 






BeauJ said:
No but it keeps the engine temp cooler. You're not going to gain 100 hp by going to an electric fan.
60-70 RWHP would be more like it :D
 






Afboy143 said:
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...&part=FLX-1318&autoview=sku&Ntk=KeywordSearch

While searching summit I saw this. It replaces that big bulky OEM fan with this light one. Its supposed to push more air and free up hp because its lighter. My question is, is it worth it or to get anything I need to go electric. If its worth it, which fan would I have to buy (Its my understanding our trucks have serpentine driven fans and need a special blade because it runs "backwards?")

Summit doesn't list that fan for an Explorer. Which one will you be using?
 






i don't even see one for the 4.0. (either 4.0)
 






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