Electric fan or Mechanical. Which cools better?

This has probably been covered here a million times, but I can't find it. The ***le says it all...What say you?

 

All things equal, a mechanical fan.
Spacing, shroud, sizing.

 

That all depends upon the speeds you normally drive, the number of blades and pitch of the fan blades, how well your fan is shrouded... lots of stuff. Give some specifics, you'll get more accurate replies.... My opinion mechanical, maybe with a clutch, it all depends........

 

The electric fan will give you the airflow you need when you are sitting still or in heavy traffic. The mechanical fan will not. It will eat up HP when you rev the engine up and are cruising. When you are cruising, you don't need a fan.

I've got a couple of mechanical fans, if you are in the market.

 

I like 7 blade clutch fan, less horsepower loss and you never blow a fan fuse.


Ago

 

I know better, but exlpain a fan/clutch. When you're cruisin it slips and at a stand-still it grabs??

 

That flex fan you pulled of of your car acts like that.
Its extremely hard to beat a clutch fan. There's minimal cruising HP loss with a clutch fan. If you've ever heard the clutch kick in there's no wonderment about air flow.

Sometimes you don't have enough room, the compromise is the electric.

 

Electrical Fan? how streetrod gay is that? answer; very

 

I didn't have room for a clutch fan. I did try a rigid fan but the real problem with mine was the powder coated radiator. I am very happy with my electric fan setup, however.

 

I was under the impression that "streetrod" was a hot rod 54? and older. Don't be a douche, just asking a question. My big-block truck has problems overheating, wanting a reliable solution. That's all.

 

Here we go

 

Ago wins! Clutch fan and an appropriate shroud are the ONLY answer. I have never had an electric of ANY quality level last an entire Phoenix summer, Period. My car will idle in traffic for hours on any 115 degree day (like today) with the A/C blowing ice chunks at ya and never think of going above 190. Skip electrics whenever you can.

 

post some pictures of your engine compartment, showing the radiator, fan, etc. from a few different angles. Then we can see what you're dealing with. There's no way to answer the question well without a lot more info.

 

You were mistaken.

FYI there are a couple different types of clutch fans, but I prefer a thermal type - they have a viscous clutch that lets the fan sort of freewheel when not needed. They are temperature sensitive - usually lock up around 170-180. That way you get the benefit of a fixed-pitch hi-flow fan without losing so much HP and MPG.

Same as Needlouvers here, warmed over SBC in my '55 Chevy pickup, a Five blade mechanical fan, PROPER shroud. Will sit in bumper to bumper traffic with the AC on when it's a hundred degrees out and never see 200.

I think a lot of guys who badmouth 'mechanical' fans probably had a $19 flex fan on their car with no shroud, improper spacing, etc etc. Their car overheated so all mechanical fans are junk. Seems to me a lot of the time guys use electric fans as a shortcut or band-aid. I won't have an electric fan on any of my old ****.

Just my 2 cents - good luck.

More info on fan clutches:

Hayden

 

By all means, enlighten me

 

Howdy- welcome to the HAMB. Ryan's opinion in a closed thread pretty much sums up the fate of this thread...

 

First things first. Don't scrimp on a radiator. I bought a direct-fit 4 row triple-p***, copper/br*** radiator, then I got a mechanical fan and complete shroud. I run a/c for those hot days and sitting in L.A. traffic. She never gets over 180 with the a/c on, it's a '52 Chevy.

 

I always use a mechanical fan.
I like them to be 7 blades and a clutch type.
My 32 3W and 32 roadster are both so equipped.

They run 180 ... anywhere. I live in the HOT, MUGGY, HUMID South where summer tempertures regularly go past 100 degrees.



Engine temperature is MORE than just a fan or a radiator.
Timing and jetting also play a important part. BUT ...
a good fan and big radiator will cure most issues.

 

This subject comes up a lot and there are always people lined up on opposing sides of the fence. I think it all comes down to personal preference.

We only run electric fans on our cars, and will never go back to a mechanical one again, unless it is for a strictly "traditional" build where we want an authentic old time look. I like electrics because a high quality fan like a SPAL will move about 2700-3000 cfms of air ON DEMAND. I can sit at a redlight and kick it on, and watch the temp drop 20 degrees before the light changes.

I like cars that look somewhat old, but am not a opposed to using something that I feel works better, like an alternator, electronic distributor, or electric fan. I also don't like that m*** of spinning blades going around in an unhooded car, because I am still wearing a small scar on my arm from where a fan blade caught me years ago.

Don

 

Whatever 'turns your crank' - I never even had a fan on my F100 for about 30 years and only put an electric one on when I knew I was going to be doing a lot of slow cruising.

A thermo-activated mechanical fan will do most of the time (bearing in mind I've seen a few fail and not spin no matter how hot the motor got) as there is no wiring or mounts to be made.

 

Just say no to electric fans and 1 wire alternators.

You are just advertising to everyone that you can't fix a problem and must resort to an easy fix with cash because a proper fix is too difficult for you.

 

That is some funny stuff right there. I guess using disc brakes is a cop out as well for wusses who cant live wtih brake fade or running through a puddle and having no brakes.
I use whatever fan works with the application, either works fine if set up correctly.

 

Funny...not a single comment on the "quality" of electric fans out there..!

My nickles worth, stay away from the cheap, swap meet fans. The ones with thin blades that no matter how fast they spin, not much air is going to be moved.

If you want to go electric, use the "Big Three.." (GM, Ford, Chrysler) stuff. Their fans HAVE to work, and have to work for a long time.
The Viper fan is one of the better ones out there. If you have the room, the diesel fans also work well. The one and two speed Lincoln fans work well.
Not that these are cheap.....but no ones mentioned "cheap or inexpensive...!"

I've tried a couple of electric fans in the past and went back to mechanical because of the garbage on the open market.

A new "daily driver" I'm working on (54 Stude, 2dr. wagon)...I'll be using a Mustang GT fan of about 2005 vintage. I'll be inserting it into the stock shroud to pull air from the whole radiator...NOT just the diameter of the fan blades. The shroud will also be sealed to the radiator.
Hopefully....this concoction of parts will work this time.

Mike

 

C'Mon man! Thats not fair. Sometimes you just don't have room.

 

yea room has a big factor in this. call it gay or lame or whatever.......i rather have a fan be it electric or belt driven then no fan at all! over heating ****s!

 

I switched too electric hasn't gone over 200 degrees yet .

New

Old

 

Planning a build is a big deal for me. Having an "oh ****" moment late in the build process is no excuse for me. I'm sorry I grew up when there were no electric fans to bail you out from poor planning. Cooling has always been a problem for hotrods. We planned for it and built it accordingly I know I'm in the minority. It's a character flaw of mine. That might be why I dislike RRs so much. I know in my own mind that we could not build it that way in the 60s. I truly detest electric fans. JMO

 

Planning a build is a big deal, and you know early on that a mechanical fan isn't going to fit. I'm a big mechanical fan fan ( haha) but an electric fan by itself doesn't make any thing close to advertising you can't fix a problem and just throw cash at it.

Besides that sounds like you think an electric fan will cool better, and that's just wrong.

 

Tommy I hear ya
But the way your talking That means that you Never should Drive
NEW CARS since they All have Electric Fans!

Just my 3.5 cents

 

This is an old hotrod forum. Lets keep it on topic.