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Cooling Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter mikestang63
  • Start date Start date Apr 15, 2013
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mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
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Apr 15, 2013
#1
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #1
Sorry for the post on what may seem obvious but it's Monday morning and my head isn't in it today. Anyway, car has stock clutch fan, replacement stock water pump, stock shroud and replacement stock Modine radiator. Everything was fine but a few days ago after sitting for a few days the temp gauge went almost to 1/2 way up before coming down to normal. Thought maybe air in the system after 2 days it was fine. It seems to be running slightly higher than normal since in stop and go. The temp will drop at speed but go back up at stop. The car sat again for a day and this morning the temp gauge went to 1/2 way and dropped slightly but stayed higher. Pulled over., lifted the hood and noticed the following

no coolant leaks
no weeping from H20 pump
all hoses and belts OK
overlflow has coolant
upper rad hose hot so stat opening
no visible leaks or hissing noises to indicate leaks
No visible obstructions in front of the condensor
Cap tight

One thing I did notice about the clutch fan was the edge of some blades looked as if they had black crap on them and the fan itself spun rather freely. There was some resistance but not much. Funny when I restarted the car the temp gauge came right down to normal. I know these gauges are terrible but my guess is the clutch fan or maybe the cap is bad.
 

ratio411

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2002
3,870
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109
Pensacola FL
Apr 15, 2013
#2
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #2
Well, cooling when the car is moving, but not when sitting still points to lack of airflow from the fan.

Above 40 mph or so, the incoming air cools the engine without the fan.
The fan is what cools the engine at lower speeds... So it sounds like your clutch fan might be failing.
Maybe when you 'joggled' the fan, it caused it to temporarily function a bit better.
The fan has black crap on the blades either because something is leaking from the clutch, or it isn't spinning fast enough to sling off normal grime.
 
Reactions: mikestang63

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,254
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South Jersey
Apr 15, 2013
#3
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #3
^^ What he said..

May be the right time to look towards an electric fan sway..
 

boostfrk

10 Year Member
Aug 30, 2011
712
69
59
Colorado
Apr 15, 2013
#4
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #4
^^ Agreed. I recently stuffed a fan from a Mercury Villagar in my stock shroud to I could retain OEM appearance. I haven't got everything put back together but it's a rather large fan with a low/high speed.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
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In the garage
Apr 15, 2013
#5
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #5
These cars must be psychic or something. I guess there is a reason now to swap in the Taurus fan I have ready to go.lol

Thanks guys.. Just going to baby it til the weekend when I can put it in.
 
Reactions: ratio411

HuskerNation

Member
Nov 4, 2011
252
16
19
West Des Moines, IA/Omaha, NE
Apr 15, 2013
#6
  • Apr 15, 2013
  • #6
mikestang63 said:
These cars must be psychic or something. I guess there is a reason now to swap in the Taurus fan I have ready to go.lol

Thanks guys.. Just going to baby it til the weekend when I can put it in.
Click to expand...

Baby it?! WTF... mine seems to run better when I beat the crap out of it and drive it like a Ford

JK, and I am surprised you don't have the Taurus fan on already. I have seen you post about it before, just thought you would have gotten to it already

GL with the install!
 

Gearhead92

Member
May 23, 2012
153
6
19
Baltimore area, Maryland
Apr 17, 2013
#7
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #7
I am going to chime in and ask a related question.

I got a EPIC craigslist deal, which included: a stock fan with a working fan clutch, along with a 94/95 mustang radiator and the electric fan still on it, all for free. Along with many other parts not listed.

I've read other places that the 94/95 radiator won't fit without a bit of modification, so I won't bother with that. I was told, however, that the electric fan would be a drop in fit.

Is this correct? Or should I just sell the 94/95 radiator (since I got it for free), and put the stock fan w/ working clutch in, since my current fan clutch is shot?
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Apr 17, 2013
#8
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #8
boostfrk said:
^^ Agreed. I recently stuffed a fan from a Mercury Villagar in my stock shroud to I could retain OEM appearance. I haven't got everything put back together but it's a rather large fan with a low/high speed.
Click to expand...


Boost,
I got the same fan from the Mercury Villager! I look at a buch of fans in the JY for best fit and that one stood out. As I told Mike, I don't know about the amp draw, but I have a 130 amp alternator anyway. I won't be able to hook my efan up for a bit because I still have the nose off the car down to the front frame - I'm paint everything before I do my big A/C assembly. Tried to get intouch with the folks at DCControls to see what my options were for any of their fan contorlers coupled to this Mercury Villager fan. Heck, those folks are ellussive for business people. No phone # to call!
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Apr 17, 2013
#9
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #9
Gearhead92 said:
I am going to chime in and ask a related question.

I got a EPIC craigslist deal, which included: a stock fan with a working fan clutch, along with a 94/95 mustang radiator and the electric fan still on it, all for free. Along with many other parts not listed.

I've read other places that the 94/95 radiator won't fit without a bit of modification, so I won't bother with that. I was told, however, that the electric fan would be a drop in fit.

Is this correct? Or should I just sell the 94/95 radiator (since I got it for free), and put the stock fan w/ working clutch in, since my current fan clutch is shot?
Click to expand...



Gearhead, I'd stick with the efean from the 95 if you want to lighten things up around the motor. Just know you need a few other things to go with it like: the efan controller that I just mentoned above. Or, you could just go with a hard-it on your alternator current and use just a relay set-up coupled to the 95 efan. If you don't have an upgraded alternator for an efan, just forget it! go with the stock clutch fan setup.
This efan stuff is for us guys who have more money, time, and brains than we know what to do with. I did say we had more brains
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Apr 17, 2013
#10
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #10
HuskerNation said:
Baby it?! WTF... mine seems to run better when I beat the crap out of it and drive it like a Ford

JK, and I am surprised you don't have the Taurus fan on already. I have seen you post about it before, just thought you would have gotten to it already

GL with the install!
Click to expand...

LOL.. yeah it was supposed to go on last weekend but life happens. The car isn't running HOT, just warmer than normal. It cools down when you start accelerating but creeps back up when stop and go. I'll post some pics of the install to prove I actually did it... lol
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Apr 17, 2013
#11
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #11
Gearhead92 said:
I am going to chime in and ask a related question.

I got a EPIC craigslist deal, which included: a stock fan with a working fan clutch, along with a 94/95 mustang radiator and the electric fan still on it, all for free. Along with many other parts not listed.

I've read other places that the 94/95 radiator won't fit without a bit of modification, so I won't bother with that. I was told, however, that the electric fan would be a drop in fit.

Is this correct? Or should I just sell the 94/95 radiator (since I got it for free), and put the stock fan w/ working clutch in, since my current fan clutch is shot?
Click to expand...

If your cooling system is fine now, I am a firm believer in don't fix what isn't broke. The stock clutch fan and shroud works fine for many people. If your existing clutch fan is bad then you can either simply replace that and call it a day or install the SN95 efan.

Many people use the 94/95 efan in the fox body. It doesn't pull as much CFM as the taurus or mkvii fan but it is a vast improvement over the stocker. You can wire it up with many of the controllers available.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Apr 17, 2013
#12
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #12
..
 

boostfrk

10 Year Member
Aug 30, 2011
712
69
59
Colorado
Apr 17, 2013
#13
  • Apr 17, 2013
  • #13
1200gt said:
Boost,
I got the same fan from the Mercury Villager! I look at a buch of fans in the JY for best fit and that one stood out. As I told Mike, I don't know about the amp draw, but I have a 130 amp alternator anyway. I won't be able to hook my efan up for a bit because I still have the nose off the car down to the front frame - I'm paint everything before I do my big A/C assembly. Tried to get intouch with the folks at DCControls to see what my options were for any of their fan contorlers coupled to this Mercury Villager fan. Heck, those folks are ellussive for business people. No phone # to call!
Click to expand...

1200gt, I purchased a Flex-a-lite VSC from Summit to control my Villager fan. I did a bunch of searching for amp draw on the Villager fan but never really found much out. I posted the below thread, and got a response that a rule of thumb is 1 amp per inch of fan diameter for normal operation, and double that for startup. Since the Flex-a-lite VSC doesn't start the fan from 0-100% the in-rush current isn't as huge of a deal.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-for...amps-does-a-mercury-villager-fan-pull.864863/
 

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.
Aug 8, 2007
1,585
102
64
Lancaster, PA
Apr 18, 2013
#14
  • Apr 18, 2013
  • #14
ratio411 said:
Well, cooling when the car is moving, but not when sitting still points to lack of airflow from the fan.

Above 40 mph or so, the incoming air cools the engine without the fan.
The fan is what cools the engine at lower speeds... So it sounds like your clutch fan might be failing.
Maybe when you 'joggled' the fan, it caused it to temporarily function a bit better.
The fan has black crap on the blades either because something is leaking from the clutch, or it isn't spinning fast enough to sling off normal grime.
Click to expand...
I had this problem before. Fan spins freely, same symptoms. Electric fan fixed the problem.
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
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Georgia
Apr 18, 2013
#15
  • Apr 18, 2013
  • #15
1200gt said:
Boost,
I got the same fan from the Mercury Villager! I look at a buch of fans in the JY for best fit and that one stood out. As I told Mike, I don't know about the amp draw, but I have a 130 amp alternator anyway. I won't be able to hook my efan up for a bit because I still have the nose off the car down to the front frame - I'm paint everything before I do my big A/C assembly. Tried to get intouch with the folks at DCControls to see what my options were for any of their fan contorlers coupled to this Mercury Villager fan. Heck, those folks are ellussive for business people. No phone # to call!
Click to expand...

There are a lot of guys who swear by DCC controllers. I do not doubt the quality of their product, as they have a great reputation, but a company that will not return my emails or answers questions is a company that I will not buy from. That was my experience with them. I ended up doing a dual relay setup, which is triggered by a temp switch mounted in the thermostat housing. I have also heard good things about the Flexalite controller mentioned above.

My .02.

Joe
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Apr 18, 2013
#16
  • Apr 18, 2013
  • #16
Mike has been advising me on the Flex-a-lite (F-VSC) , as a few others have chosen it as well. I kinda wanted to get the best one out there because I plan to keep the car forever, and I will drive it daily; maybe not so much for work commutes, but not wanting to do the return-shipment -thing too often.

Jrichker, on this site, has been invaluable with helping on many issues and I have come to respect and desire his inputs. He listed the DCC as #1 in quality and the other brand SPAL as #2. The F-VSC, where it comes to popularity poles, using most purchased as a guide, seems to win the test hands-down. My other hold-up on the F-VSC was due to a write-up on corral where a member did an exposition on the Flex-a-lite and noted issues with temp regulating because of the type of temp. sensor probe use in the F-VSC set-up.

Still no return email from the folks at DCC, so I think they are out of the hunt for me. Unless I get an email today with amens.
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Apr 18, 2013
#17
  • Apr 18, 2013
  • #17
boostfrk said:
1200gt, I purchased a Flex-a-lite VSC from Summit to control my Villager fan. I did a bunch of searching for amp draw on the Villager fan but never really found much out. I posted the below thread, and got a response that a rule of thumb is 1 amp per inch of fan diameter for normal operation, and double that for startup. Since the Flex-a-lite VSC doesn't start the fan from 0-100% the in-rush current isn't as huge of a deal.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-for...amps-does-a-mercury-villager-fan-pull.864863/
Click to expand...


Thanks Boost for that info on the Merc Villager fan. There was some good tech info that I just love there.... I have to assume your F-VSC and Villager fan install went well. Did you run into any snaggs??? Especially with locating the probe near the Villager shroud? I wanted to link this guys write up on corral but not sure about rules on here about linking other stang sites; but I found that info really helpful and specific to the F-VSC.

I'll list the link if its OK.
 

boostfrk

10 Year Member
Aug 30, 2011
712
69
59
Colorado
Apr 18, 2013
#18
  • Apr 18, 2013
  • #18
Haha, I haven't installed it yet. Hopefully next week. I'm working to get my lower intake installed first then I'll move on to the fan and VSC.

If nothing else, PM me the link just so I can breeze through it and see if there is anything useful. I'll be documenting my install on my build thread, so check that out in a couple weeks for some updates.
 

1200gt

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
357
40
39
Apr 19, 2013
#19
  • Apr 19, 2013
  • #19
boostfrk said:
Haha, I haven't installed it yet. Hopefully next week. I'm working to get my lower intake installed first then I'll move on to the fan and VSC.

If nothing else, PM me the link just so I can breeze through it and see if there is anything useful. I'll be documenting my install on my build thread, so check that out in a couple weeks for some updates.
Click to expand...

PM'd you the link. Let's yak about it later - maybe start a dedicated thread on it if non exist on here...
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Apr 19, 2013
#20
  • Apr 19, 2013
  • #20
1200gt said:
PM'd you the link. Let's yak about it later - maybe start a dedicated thread on it if non exist on here...
Click to expand...

Hey,,, it already exists.

http://forums.corral.net/forums/gen...01-taurus-fan-flex-lite-33054-vsc-how-do.html
 
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