Sorry to ask, but I did a search and did not really see anything that would make me spend $500 bucks to have them installed. Now I KNOW this is going to be a dumb question...If they are so great, why are they, and why would Ford not do it. I have been sold on the tunes, and will install the canned tunes on the Xcal3 next week. (Have to wait 8 weeks for custom tunes) Responses will be appreciated.

If yall know a good link to a forum thread, that would be appreciated also.

 

Ford has used electric fans in various cars since at least 93.
The basic reason to use them was space limitations in the smaller cars, front wheel drive cross position motors etc..
As for performance, they relieve the motor of some fan driving resistance.
However the cost per the return is questionable since the mechanical fan is already on a thermo clutch arrangement.
The electric fan is not free power but takes power from the alternator to run it and in turn takes power from the motor to drive the alternator.
The difference is it's a little bit more efficient using an electric motor and can be controlled to run less, also saving some power from the motor thru the alternator.
My problem is I don't think it's worth $500 to gain this little bit in performance and a little fuel mileage. You get more return from a tuner at less money.

 

go to your local junkyard for E-fans or buy used. just check to make sure the fans are not blown. my junkyard has a huge E-fans area. any E-fan('s) set up there was 30Bucks for anything in there. didnt have wireing or the themo set up but hey 30 is alot cheaper than the kits for 300-500. bought mine used from Built. and i love it the stock fan was kind of hard to get out but ill tell ya a trick that worked for me if u deside to do it!. if your looking for more power this is a good option. fuel wise...some people claim 1.5-3 MPG more.

 

I spent about 120-130 on parts for my complete dual fan setup. I built my own harness, and if they start to go wrong i can fix it on the side of the road, and will not have to call someone and beg for a replacement part.
-Patrick

 

i control mine maunaly so i dont have to worry about them not working lol. ill wire up the heat senor one day but i like playing with it. and on the high way or on a stedy cruise over 40 i dont need them so i can just flip them off yea i know a pain to mess with but i dont mind it. and the extra room is gonna help if i ever need to do a pully chage thats for sure jeez that stock shroud/fan takes up alot of room!

 

Well worth it. Immediate power gain and 1-2 mpg gain. quiet. As for robbing power from the alternator, consider: The fans do not run while driving due to ram air cooling of the radiator; they generally don't run during winter; they only turn on when sitting at idle, and then only for a minute or two, or until you start driving again. Unless you have an undersized alternator, the engine is easily up to the task of powering fans. Also, a good controller will usually start the fans at partial power (60%), and only ups the power when additional cooling is needed.

I have the 130 amp alternator in the Expy. No problem whatsoever running two 14" fans. The Ex is a heavy vehicle and I have the 4.6l, which is underpowered for the weight of the truck. However, those fans made an instant believer out of me.

 

yeah so did mine. in any new car i get that i want to add power too this is one of the frist things i would do. i have a 10 year old stock alternator so when i click them on at idle my RPM's drop a lil but then they recover. Very well worth it if your looking for more ponies and if you live in a colder area your truck heats up alot faster!

 

But never in a truck...why???

 

I dunno. GM uses them in their Escalade/Avalance units. Maybe the cost of tooling up a new way of cooling the engine when the "market" isn't demanding it of them. More of the customer's mindset of Ford Truck = work, and the GM is more about looks and new technology. Seems Ford is behind GM in more than a few areas, this being one of them.

 

I have read a few posts where they keep blowing fuses with the electric fans setup. Mechanincal fan is RARE to go out I would think. Do electric fans draw more current from the battery? I also do not know if it is worth the cost UNLESS you are keeping your vehicle for the long run. Perhaps. I have also read that they are quieter.

 

The position anyone takes is all in how they look at it.
A mfger looks at it from a long term reliability point and cost.
Others try the impression route to sales by loading up with all kinds of gimmicks that you can do without.
Those who buy, too have, a truck and a racer at the same time, want it all, so hence all the mods in an attempt to have it all.
If they would go back to offereing an option selection on these items, then you could get more of what you might want to begin with.
BUT the mfger won't go to those extents because it cost more to do than it's worth for them.
You make mods, you live with any results you get and not run back to the dealer with those problems.
This is where it pays to do the best install you can because you don't have the luxury of factory research and testing to get trouble free operation, parts and warrenty.
We have enough issues as it is without all these extras to deal with.
Many vehichles are traded and sold long before there wore out just because of all the electronics that go into issues and the cost of resolving them.
Consider the lowly GEM module, it is a programmed part and can't be just swapped from truck to truck unless exactly the same build. Therefore the total cost gets out of hand before the issue is settled.
Your in the modern age and things are getting out of the affordable range when problems arrise.
The only defense is your own education on them, to have even a remote chance of helping yourself.
When I get into involved explanation trying to help people who have no idea what i'm talking about, it's often a waiste of time beside the tools needed and a place to work, in some instances, then you have other replies that may disagree, making things even more difficult..
I often look at the thread list and not answer where is appears either there is enough replies or it gets to complicated to carry on a reply and be helpful.