flex fan not letting car warm up??

[jaidedeye]

i am having issues getting my car warmed up. i have a FMS 3 core radiator, 160 degree t-stat, and an 18 inch flex fan.......

because the fan spins all the time is it also keeping my motor from warming up all the way? i know my t-stat is alo not helping. i think i might go to a 192 t-stat for the winter.

 

[ss93cobra]

Same set-up in my wife's car, except she has a 180 t-stat. No issues with her car, I'd try a different t-stat.

 

[Foxwolfe]

180 t-stat should be just fine, (as you already know I'm sure) a 160 is not needed and is prolly hurting more than its helping.

 

[HISSIN50]

the fan should not make much of a difference. remember, till the stat (which i addressed in another thread, IIRC - too cold) opens, the fan is cooling the snot out of the coolant in the radiator. but that has no effect on the motor temp or the coolant in the motor. once the stat opens, the cold coolant is circulated into the motor and as soon as it reaches the stat, closes the stat back up (the dynamic is a bit more complex, but that is essentially it). so the fan might be cooling the coolant in the rad a little more (than if you had an elec fan, etc which was not on). this will mean the motor would cool off a smidge more once the stat opens, but again, the stat closes and heats the coolant back up.

the stat is a much larger factor, IMHO.

sorta make sense? thoughts? good luck.

 

[jerry beach]

What temp are you running at? Do you have an aftermarket guage? You really should know, otherwise the engine may be plenty hot and you heater isnt working right.

 

[jaidedeye]

i have an autometer guage but havent put it in yet......the stock one sits around 130, and the rad hohes are cool enough to hang onto after driving for a few hours

 

[HISSIN50]

i have an autometer guage but havent put it in yet......the stock one sits around 130, and the rad hohes are cool enough to hang onto after driving for a few hours

is it cold back there? i would be wondering if the stat is closing (read locked open). when the stat is closed, the hoses to the rad wont necessarily be hot, esp if it is cold out (coolin the outside of the hose). summertime should be a different story.

FWIW, my stock gauge can read ~30-40* off from my aftermarket gauge.

good luck.

 

[Foxwolfe]

Yeah as hissin said the stock gauge can read way off, while I still had my stocker hooked up it was reading around 130 as well. Hooked up the autometer gauge and it was reading correctly at around 180-190 (180 stat).

 

[Michael Yount]

As others have said - get a real gauge; it's not the fan, it's the t'stat. Although, I'd lose the fan too - electric with variable speed controller a MUCH better set up. I think the flex fans actually use more HP than a stock fan with working clutch.

 

[jaidedeye]

i have a autometer guage , i just have to install it

personally i dont like elec fans. i had a black magic fan and the damn thing quit working while i was in traffic. also i run U/D pulleys. its really not a concern to me if the flex fan is taking 5 hp from me. my pulleys and my a/c delete and P/S delete make up for it

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

I run a 180 t stat. It doesn't warm up and give out hardly any heat during the winter. My buddy has a 180 too and gives out no heat. It is definitely your 160 tstat. Do a stock replacement one.

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

i have a autometer guage , i just have to install it

personally i dont like elec fans. i had a black magic fan and the damn thing quit working while i was in traffic.

This is about the only thing on my engine that is stock. The cooling fan and clutch. I don't want to have to worry about forgetting to turn the fan on, the temp sending unit to go bad (if thermostatically controlled) or the fan to quit working also. I have been in many overheating situations. It has always been a fear. My new motor has never got hot AT ALL with the stock fan. Therefore it is staying because it is doing a good job and is reliable. It's a trust thing.

 

[Michael Yount]

Guys I hear you - but you're living in the 19th Century. Jaided - don't let the poor choice of fan (Black 'tragic' - there's a reason for the nickname) indict all fans. Get a good one with a good control system and they'll work just fine. Almost every car produced for the last - oh, I don't know, 10 years anyway has had electric cooling fans. If you buy decent equipement they're as re reliable as your fan belt is.

Oh, and chances are you're giving up noticeably more than 5HP whirling that flex fan around.

But all beside the point - get a warmer t'stat in there and your heat/warmth should return. 180F ought to do it.

 

[HISSIN50]

Get a good one with a good control system and they'll work just fine. Almost every car produced for the last - oh, I don't know, 10 years anyway has had electric cooling fans. If you buy decent equipement they're as re reliable as your fan belt is.

that is how i feel too (though i run and like my stock fan set up for the temps i see [vs needing a 3G to run a Mark 8]). one thing that gives fan experiences a bad rap is that people often (not directed at anyone in this thread, but based on complaints i read in general) dont wire the controller up correctly or dont use a decent controller. the best fan in the world aint gonna' look good if the controller is not letting it perform its function when it should.

 

[Michael Yount]

I'd add to that JT - the biggest problem I think giving electric fans a bad rap are the $59 specials sold by speed shops combined with the lack of knowledge the average car person has about what it takes to keep their car cool. A quality fan is just that - you might score a used one at a good price; but quality new ones aren't cheap.