has anyone installed one of these just to monitor the ups and downs of these engines?

i have an electric fan. and the control box that comes with the kit that lets you adjust when you want the fans to come on doesn't have numbers stamped on the control box to tell me actually what i have the fans set to. just for a check i want to install an accurate engine temp gauge to tell me just how hot my engine is getting. i know it's supposed to be 190 F. and yes, the stock gauge is always right around where it used to be before i put in the electric fans. if anything, i've probably got the *** set too low. so my engine may be running too cool which may hurt it. i know i'm over-reacting and i should leave well-enough alone. but i love my truck.

so if anyone has installed one, please let me know.

i saw one at wal-mart for $10, but i openned the package and the instructions were way vague. plus, the only numbers it gave were like 120, 190, 225, and 250. maybe a little different, you get the idea. i don't want a cheap one that will do the job. i want something a little more quality with more than 4 temps.

thanks

Joel

 

Hello Joel,

If you set the fan to come on at 10-15 degrees above your water thermostat, you will be fine. You don't really need a stat to monitor your engine temp. Unless your looking for something for a cheap thrill.

The probe from your electric fan normally is the dry type that is pushed into the radiator fins.

To set the fan control, you need to turn off the A/C first.
Then put a dry type thermometer through the raditor fins near the probe from your fan controller. The temp at this spot is 20-25 degrees cooler than the actual engine/water temp. Adjust the controller to come on at the temp your thermometer says you need. It takes a little messing around with, but with a little patience you'll get the fan comming on just right.

Remember, the dry temp at your thermometer is 25 degrees cooler than the temp of your engine.

If your stat is a 193 degree stat your thermometer should read about 178 degrees. This equates to the fan comming on when coolant temp is actually 203 degrees.
Once your done setting this, you really don't have to watch the temp all the time. You might check the fan turn on temp once in awhile just to be sure it hasn't moved for some reason, but it isn't likely to happen.


Rocks

 

One more tip for you. The best horsepower is picked up when the engine temp is around 200 to 210 degrees.
The 190 you talk about is actually the water thermostat temp(actually 193, but close enough)


Rocks

 

i know of the method you're speaking of. however, i have the flex a lite 260. this kit comes with a control box that has a copper tube that mounts right inside the radiator inlet hose. it actually reads temps of the radiator fluid leaving the engine / entering the radiator.

so, i understand what you're saying about setting it a little lower... after going through the radiator. so, in my case, i should set the control box to activate at a little higher than 193.

thanks for your replies.

Joel

 

Hey Joel,

Yes, I would set the fan to come on about 10 degrees higher than the water thermostat.
The truck and fans will do the rest.


Rocks

 

but i'd still like someone to recommend a good water / radiator fluid temp gauge.

 

I ordered the Auto-Meter 3331 temp. gauge and the 2235 Add-On-To panel. I wanted to avoid the A pillar with the tubing all together. I got my plumbing T with the 5/8 inch barbed ends and ½ inch threaded female for the probe. I plan to splice into the heater hose coming out of the water pump with the T.

 

thanx for the rec. i'll check it out.

Joel

 

HI!... RED BULL : Make sure you get a really good, accurate temp guage like the ones made by AUTOMETER. Also make sure it is a "MECHANICAL" style guage. From my experiences, the electrical ones are not even close to being accuate as the mechanical ones. Also make sure you "T" into the heater hose coming from the back of the engine block. DO NOT "T" into the outgoing heater hose from the firewall!!!!!! If you do you will not get accurate reading when you have your heat on in the cab because the blower fan will cool the fluid slightly in the heater core. You must 'T" into the heater hose coming from the rear of the engine block and before it enters through the firewall. Here's a pic of my set-up below.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4-793-6948.jpg

 

Neal,

good, i see you used tephlon tape. you're installation looks air tight. i'll have to check out those locations you're talking about. i wonder if our 5.4's have those hoses in that same running location you're talking about.

and by "electrical," do you mean "digital?" i would have thought those'd be a little more accurate. i was going to give summit a call today anywho. i have their number on my speed dial.

thanks for your help

Joel

 

red bull,
You say in your post you have a model 260? can you send me pics of your setup? I picked up a slightly used 260 last week and look to install it maybe this weekend. I am in san antonio and I saw that you were in Houston, not that that matters any. but, did you go with a mechanical temp gage. did you buy a new thermostat and if so which temp did you buy? 180? I didn't get directions for installing this fan so I can use all the help I can get.
thanks

 

red bull,
before i installed a real temp guage, buy the way i used the plug in the manifold just behind and to right of the altenator. i used the diagnostic funtion of the odometer to read the eng temp, of coarse it was in 0.c and i had to convert 0.f

t-man