opinions/help with electric fan mod

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Old 09-12-2010, 11:43 AM
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opinions/help with electric fan mod

so im really wanting to swap over to electric fans to save some MPG's, especially since im going up a little in tire size. but i cant spend the $600 on the flex-a-lite set. looking to do it as cheaply as possible. itll be for a 2000 F150, 5.4L

thanks!
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 02:03 PM
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so ive run across this set, and it seems like a decent set. opinions?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-12-...#ht_2775wt_939
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 03:48 PM
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Going cheap would probably be more hassle in the end then its worth. get quality stuff or you'll regret it.
http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...alogno=PPI-EFK
 

Last edited by jethat; 09-12-2010 at 05:33 PM.
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Old 09-12-2010, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by jethat
Going cheap would probably be more hassle in the end then its wort. get quality stuff or you'll regret it.
http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...alogno=PPI-EFK
X2 - You won't find many "problem" thread relating to the FAL kits - if you do, user install generally plays a roll. I picked up my FAL270 about 2 months back for $350 NIB - never opened or installed, still under the 1-year warranty.
I picked up about 1-3 MPG depending on the type of driving.
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 06:00 PM
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i might consider going that route. i think i might try doing 2 flex-a-lite fans on a custom mount, or possibly put a fan in the stock shroud. or modify it to fit 2 fans. lots of options, gonna do some thinking.
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 07:26 PM
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Using your web browser, go to modmyf150.com. they have great simple write-ups on several mods for f150's. one is a fairly easy and cheap Lincoln e-fan swap that probably will work well.
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by dozerdog
Using your web browser, go to modmyf150.com. they have great simple write-ups on several mods for f150's. one is a fairly easy and cheap Lincoln e-fan swap that probably will work well.
thanks man, i'll go check it out now!
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 07:51 PM
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this guy did basically exactly what i was thinking

http://www.modmyf150.com/2010/02/15/...or-cooling-fan
 
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Old 09-12-2010, 08:26 PM
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glad to help.
 
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Old 09-13-2010, 02:38 AM
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If the fan alone costs $350, and it requires a $100 controller, and you get at least 12mpg now, and the best you can get is 3mpg increase (which I don't believe, but we'll just use it), and gas costs an average of $3/gal, that means you'd have to drive at PEAK economy for 9000mi just to pay for the parts. But you've gotta figure in labor even if you DIY, and you can't drive that efficiently all the time, so just plan on this being a losing investment for at least 2 years. And if you get more MPG than 12 right now, it'll take even longer.

But an e-fan is NOT more fuel-efficient than a mechanical fan UNLESS the PCM is programmed to turn it off when it's not needed. An aftermarket fan controller can't do that.

So if your only goal is to save money, leave the mech fan on.
 
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Old 09-13-2010, 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve83
If the fan alone costs $350, and it requires a $100 controller, and you get at least 12mpg now, and the best you can get is 3mpg increase (which I don't believe, but we'll just use it), and gas costs an average of $3/gal, that means you'd have to drive at PEAK economy for 9000mi just to pay for the parts. But you've gotta figure in labor even if you DIY, and you can't drive that efficiently all the time, so just plan on this being a losing investment for at least 2 years. And if you get more MPG than 12 right now, it'll take even longer.

But an e-fan is NOT more fuel-efficient than a mechanical fan UNLESS the PCM is programmed to turn it off when it's not needed. An aftermarket fan controller can't do that.

So if your only goal is to save money, leave the mech fan on.
They do more then save gas the give you a little bit of power to so that helps make them worth it to.
E-fans would be independently controlled they are not controlled by the pcm.
 
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Old 09-13-2010, 10:59 AM
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I did my set up with the fans on a 98ish ford windstar (13" and 15") with a cheapo controller for less than $100 and that was 3 years ago now. Just an FYI.
 
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Old 09-13-2010, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by jethat
They do more then save gas the give you a little bit of power to so that helps make them worth it to.
The reason they're not more fuel-efficient is that they take MORE power from the engine than a mech fan, when they're moving the same amount of air.
Originally Posted by jethat
E-fans would be independently controlled they are not controlled by the pcm.
My '94 CV's e-fan is PCM-controlled because I swapped in the complete engine, wiring harness, e-fan, & PCM from a '00 MGM. So mine is actually more efficient than the original '94 engine & mech fan.
 
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Old 09-13-2010, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve83
The reason they're not more fuel-efficient is that they take MORE power from the engine than a mech fan, when they're moving the same amount of air.My '94 CV's e-fan is PCM-controlled because I swapped in the complete engine, wiring harness, e-fan, & PCM from a '00 MGM. So mine is actually more efficient than the original '94 engine & mech fan.
How would you figure they take more power to run then a mechanical fan? They run off the alternator thats always being turned. Please explain the logic there?
Most E fan conversions are not PCM controlled they come on when the temperature reaches a certain point via temp sending units. Turn of when the temp reaches a set level. most kits set up for one fan to come on when the A/C is on. Thats it.
The whole idea is gaining power and fuel economy by reducing parasitic power loss.. Loosing the mechanical fan gains horsepower (dyno proven gains of 15-20 hp)
 
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Old 09-14-2010, 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve83
But an e-fan is NOT more fuel-efficient than a mechanical fan UNLESS the PCM is programmed to turn it off when it's not needed. An aftermarket fan controller can't do that.
Efans are a nice power saver, 15-20 hp as posted, which does translate into a Wow on the first drive with them installed.

Two of these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-16516/

Two of these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-16759/

Start reading here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/ot...fan-setup.html
 


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