help with electric fan conversion needed!
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help with electric fan conversion needed!
im thinkin about converting my 98 f 150 4.6 to electric radiator fans and i need help with a few things.. first of all.. is this a worth while mod? also what is the best place to tap into for a power source and what is the best way to mount the fans .. thanks
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Define worth while. What are you looking to get out of it? It doesn't hurt, maybe 1 or 2 extra ponies, maybe save a couple gallons over the course of a year.
Power source: A temp probe kit will come with all the neccesary wiring and instructions for your install. One goes to the A/C clutch, another to a key-on ignition, another to the battery.
As for mounting the fans, I went to Lowes and got 2x 10' strips of aluminum and cut them to size and bolted them onto my radiator- DONT use the plastic tabs that go through the radiator, they will only cause a leak
Power source: A temp probe kit will come with all the neccesary wiring and instructions for your install. One goes to the A/C clutch, another to a key-on ignition, another to the battery.
As for mounting the fans, I went to Lowes and got 2x 10' strips of aluminum and cut them to size and bolted them onto my radiator- DONT use the plastic tabs that go through the radiator, they will only cause a leak
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Originally Posted by Raptor05121
Define worth while. What are you looking to get out of it? It doesn't hurt, maybe 1 or 2 extra ponies, maybe save a couple gallons over the course of a year.
Power source: A temp probe kit will come with all the neccesary wiring and instructions for your install. One goes to the A/C clutch, another to a key-on ignition, another to the battery.
As for mounting the fans, I went to Lowes and got 2x 10' strips of aluminum and cut them to size and bolted them onto my radiator- DONT use the plastic tabs that go through the radiator, they will only cause a leak
Power source: A temp probe kit will come with all the neccesary wiring and instructions for your install. One goes to the A/C clutch, another to a key-on ignition, another to the battery.
As for mounting the fans, I went to Lowes and got 2x 10' strips of aluminum and cut them to size and bolted them onto my radiator- DONT use the plastic tabs that go through the radiator, they will only cause a leak
id like to get alittle more power and mileage.. i didn't buy a kit.. i just took one out of a junkyard car.. and would just like to directly wire it to a power source of some sort but i don't know where a good source would be? any idea?
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Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 16
From: Central Coast, California
My opinion on efans ...
It's pretty simple to add efans that will work ... it's more difficult to add efans which match the factory fan for cooling and reliability. If you won't be stressing your cooling system then pretty much any fan/controller will work. If you ever plan on towing/hauling a large load up a steep hill on a hot day then you want to plan this mod more carefully.
Connecting a fan directly to switched power defeats the purpose of an efan. The goal is to have the fan only run when needed. For this you need some sort of fan controller.
A quick search on this site will give you plenty of info to help you decide how to proceed. Link to my install ...https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...150-4-2-a.html, where I attempted to meet factory cooling/reliability.
I'm real happy with my efan, but I have yet to really stress the cooling system. The truck seems to accelerate a little better, maybe gets a little better mileage, and the lack of fan noise is great!
It's pretty simple to add efans that will work ... it's more difficult to add efans which match the factory fan for cooling and reliability. If you won't be stressing your cooling system then pretty much any fan/controller will work. If you ever plan on towing/hauling a large load up a steep hill on a hot day then you want to plan this mod more carefully.
Connecting a fan directly to switched power defeats the purpose of an efan. The goal is to have the fan only run when needed. For this you need some sort of fan controller.
A quick search on this site will give you plenty of info to help you decide how to proceed. Link to my install ...https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...150-4-2-a.html, where I attempted to meet factory cooling/reliability.
I'm real happy with my efan, but I have yet to really stress the cooling system. The truck seems to accelerate a little better, maybe gets a little better mileage, and the lack of fan noise is great!
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: swamps of la
its only worth while if you can do it for a good price and what kind of gains you get.
i have mine powered using relays running off the battery. im using mikes fan relays which use two temp probes, one for the radiator and one for the AC condesor. that way your fans arent running all time when the ac is on, just when they are needed.
im also using fans out of a ford windstar. its a dual fan setup. the mark 8 fans are way overkill for our engines. mike has a 32V v8 in his personal truck and runs a ford mustang GT fan.
pic of the windstar fans. they are almost a perfect fit for our radiators, i just had to fab up a small bracket for the passengers side for it to work.
i have mine powered using relays running off the battery. im using mikes fan relays which use two temp probes, one for the radiator and one for the AC condesor. that way your fans arent running all time when the ac is on, just when they are needed.
im also using fans out of a ford windstar. its a dual fan setup. the mark 8 fans are way overkill for our engines. mike has a 32V v8 in his personal truck and runs a ford mustang GT fan.
pic of the windstar fans. they are almost a perfect fit for our radiators, i just had to fab up a small bracket for the passengers side for it to work.
Last edited by str8t six; Dec 22, 2012 at 12:09 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
Fans have to move at least same amount of air as the stock fan does.
Fans with this capacity draw a lot of current so you cannot just connect them for full time operation with switches just anywhere.
The installation requires it to be proper or you will have problems when in hot summer months and or towing with A/C.
You need:
1. Fans large enough.
2. A temperature power controller to control the fans so they donot run full time and handle the currents involved.
3. Installation using proper wire sizes and workmanship.
This is not to be taken to lightly.
Good luck.
Fans with this capacity draw a lot of current so you cannot just connect them for full time operation with switches just anywhere.
The installation requires it to be proper or you will have problems when in hot summer months and or towing with A/C.
You need:
1. Fans large enough.
2. A temperature power controller to control the fans so they donot run full time and handle the currents involved.
3. Installation using proper wire sizes and workmanship.
This is not to be taken to lightly.
Good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 1
From: PA
Trending Topics
Best fan to use is a fan out of a Lincoln Mark VIII. It's what most of the Lightning guys use and what I used in my Lightning. You can mount the fan in your factory fan shroud. As for controlling it, http://www.madenterprise.com/All_F150.asp has the best controller on the market.
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 86
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From: PA
towing experience?
So I saw the post on here about how efans might not be as efficient if your towing up steep hills for long distances etc. anyone have any experience with towing after the efan upgrade? If so, how did that affect your engine? Thanks in advance!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
Consider the following;
The fans have to be as large in airflow as the stock fan assembly.
To that end, in a proper system, they will be running full on in response to the engine heat produced under that load and the lower road speed not subtracting as much heat from the radiator, as fast.
As well, the fans full on, load the motor through the alternator's load.
The rule of thumb is it takes about 1.5 hp per 1000 watts to generate the power.
An example of this loading would be 14 volts times 60 amps would be 840 watts or 840/1000 = .84 x 1.5 hp = 1.26 hp to run the alternator load.
The only difference is the orignal fan is not there to create an extra load by pulling air through the radiator.
There might be a 'small' advantage under those 'specific' conditions but the system has to be sized and installed properly or your looking at possible grief of overheating.
Is it worth it?
Good luck.
The fans have to be as large in airflow as the stock fan assembly.
To that end, in a proper system, they will be running full on in response to the engine heat produced under that load and the lower road speed not subtracting as much heat from the radiator, as fast.
As well, the fans full on, load the motor through the alternator's load.
The rule of thumb is it takes about 1.5 hp per 1000 watts to generate the power.
An example of this loading would be 14 volts times 60 amps would be 840 watts or 840/1000 = .84 x 1.5 hp = 1.26 hp to run the alternator load.
The only difference is the orignal fan is not there to create an extra load by pulling air through the radiator.
There might be a 'small' advantage under those 'specific' conditions but the system has to be sized and installed properly or your looking at possible grief of overheating.
Is it worth it?
Good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Alberta Canada
I tow with mine. 5500 pound travel trailer. From what I can see on my temp gauge (Gryphon) they cool every bit as good as the stock fan. I did notice that without the stock fan drag that my truck does not need to shift down as much as it used to. The downside is I also saw a slight rise in my trans temp (digital gauge) as my fans are not spinning all the time like the stock one but nothing to worry about so far.
