I'm not sure if running an e-fan is really worth it. I'm sure that it will free up a few H/P but what about the extra load on the alternator? Making the electricity to run the fan is not free! One thing I don't like about my fan (I don't know about the other brands) is that running down the road at highway speeds you don't need a fan running at all, but with the e-fan if the A/C is on, the fan is on. In Texas we run the A/C at least a few days, 10 months a year and every day for eight months.

Any thoughts on how to make the fans go off at highway speeds or how much H/P the extra load on the alternator uses? Has anyone done a back to back dyno check to see how much the fan really saves? Flex-A-Lite says 17-20 H/P but I really doubt that it is that much.


Jerry

 

Jerry I have never had any problems with the e fan putting a load on the alternator. As far as turning off the fan on the highway, you could allways run a switch into the cab, and just turn the AC circuit off when on the highway

I wouldn't worry about the extra load when cruising on the highway. Since you are just cruising and not really woried about a few HP at that time.

I am not really impressed with the flexalite fan setup. I am sure it works well, but it just doesn't look right and the intercooler resevour just doesn't attach right. I like the JDM/LFP setup much better.

 

Does anyone have any conclusive track times from before and after with just an E-Fan? I don't care about the dyno, what is it worth on the track?

I haven't looked but I assume its not a big deal to take off the stock fan. Maybe I will try it at the next track rental.

 

i plan on doing a custom efan setup soon, but i am mainly looking to gain some gas milage and quiet down the noise from the factory mech fan. the few hp and added throttle response will be nice too, but i'm not counting on big numbers here, but who can argue for $200

 

Wire it yourself

I only ran mine about 10% of the time I was driving. Hell even when the A/C was on I rarely turned it on............unless I was sitting in traffic.

--Joe

 

Don,
I agree that the Flex-A-Lite fan is a little different. It does however move more air than the others. The intercooler resevour mount on mine looks just like stock. The only thing wrong with a switch to turn off the fan on the highway is that I could forget to turn it back on in town. That would be a stupid way to burn up a motor. I'm just not sure the e-fan has any value to me since I do not drag race.


Thanks,
Jerry

 

I did my own elec. fan set up, all I paid was like $70 total. I used a toggle switch and I turn it on and off as needed.

 

I got my flex-a-lite setup friday going to install today I thought about the same problem. you could check with a heating and air company and get what is called a Sail Switch (goes in duct work to tell gas heaters when air is flowing before lighting gas) and put it in front of the rad then when you were moving it could cut off the fans,just a thought

 

The Flex-a-lite fans pulls 28 amps or 14 amps x 2 fans.

The Ford fan pulls 20 amps on low and 30 amps on high. High is only used for cooling down while stopped by flipping the manual switch. The cool down at the track is one of the biggest benefits of the electric fan.

The Flex-a-lite puts about 30% more load on the alternator when running down the road or track.

The Ford fan is more than adequate for the amount of air that needs to be moved through the radiator.

I was wondering if anybody was going to figure this out. I had already done the math a while ago but I didn't want to rain on anybody's parade.

 

I thought it was 30 on low and 40 on high

--Joe

 

I have my umbrella out for the rain LOL. put the F/A/L fans on today they work great on at 175 off at 170 with a 170 stat. Drove around a local park for about 30 min with radio off and watching guage the only time the fans came on was at a long stop and top speed I reached was 25 MPH! so unless you were towing or in the Mtn's it wont come on. also one thing to consider that i have not heard brought up is the amp spec are all for fan's with the vehicle setting still. Let's say the fans pull air at say 40 MPH through the blades then with the truck running 40 down the road the fans are under almost NO LOAD, as air speed matches amp draw drops. Just something to think about

 

I also have a few questions on the Electric Fan set up compared to stock.

Like said above w/ the e fans you free up horse power and decrease the load on the motor. But something has to run that fan. Also stated above. If its an Electric fan, the alternator and the battery will be running the fans now right? You won't lose any power from that will you? Isn't the alternator always running?
Also, can you have the option to turn the fan on and off WITH a 160 degree thermastat? I'd like to have that be the default when the motor hits 160 degrees, open up thermastat, and turn on fans at 160. But also, if Im sitting in staging, can I turn them on by hand. Or do I not need the toggle switch, because in staging/traffic my temp will always be above 160? I have no cluse about engine temp, and stock fans vs e fans...
I'd really apprecite the info. I've always been interested in getting electric fans with a Cobra water pump for my truck.
Thanks, Shane

 

with a 180 thernostat fan stays on all the time , fan switch is 180 deg, switched to 170 thermostat and fan is off all the time while driving only turns on when idleing for extended period of time. Fan is beneficial when you have a 180 deg fan switch and 170 deg thermostat. I had same reservations also about putting more load on alternator as in no gain if fans were running while racing but fan is off in most situations,= free hp. I had also the idea of switching the alternator off in racing situations with a toggle switch to cut the field voltage, alt. would just freewheel. lights would run off of battery. flip switch on after race to start charging again. i wonder how much hp thats worth? next time i dyno i'll pull the one wire field connector and see what it does.

 

I am also interested in an electric fan and intercooler fans.
What powers the little little spal intercooler fans?

Thanks, Shane

 

I had mine wired to the solenoid. However some just splice into the power wire from the IC pump. But when you do that they only run when the pump is on...........I wanted to be able to run them anyime.

--Joe