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Old 02-04-2025, 01:38 PM
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gauge inaccuracy & bad? fan clutch workarrounds

Quote:
Originally Posted by Themoog View Post
...
I know the guage is buffered between 75°c and 110°c when needle is vertical ...
I've recently had a new set of tyres too but the car rolls easier and the steering is lighter so I don't think think it's them causing the poor MPG.
What do you think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynne
...The non gauge would go to vertical telling me everything is good. Lying piece of shit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by "X5chemist
...How old is the fan clutch? Check all the belt pulleys for drag.
My mpg stays about the same, winter or summer, because I actually spend more time driving short hops and doing more stationary testing in summer, while testing less and driving on longer trips in winter (to the family compound during holidays and birthdays...mostly in fall & winter).

But, since I use the Torque Pro app on a dash-mounted Android tablet, I can monitor actual coolant temperature at all times, and see where the T-stat opens and if I'm in closed or open loop...better than relying on the BMW "guess-'em" gauge.

And, one of the first things I did when I traded for my X5, was to replace the failing fan clutch (with deteriorated blades) with an aftermarket electric fan, and added controls so I could change the fan speed at will, or turn it off completely (and to reduce noise). Now, in cooler weather. I can turn the speed down low, relying mostly on the auxiliary fan (replaced a few months ago), and in summer, turn the speed up to 100%, in stop & go traffic. In both seasons, I'll sometimes also turn the fan off at highway speeds, to conserve electrical power, as it becomes redundant due to free airflow.

IIRC, my mpg went up about 2-3 mpg, after installing the fan, and obviously, the wear on the waterpump bearing was instantly reduced, by eliminating the fan clutch. A win-win situation.
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01 BMW X5 E53,3.0i-5L40E, 7/13/01
topas-blau,Leder-grau,"resto-project car"

Here:
14 Lexus ES350,3.5L-U660E
09 HHR Panel,2.2L-4T45E
04 Chevy 2500HD,6.0L-4L80E
98 GMC Sierra 1500,5.7L-4L60E

Gone:
66 Chevelle Malibu 2dr ht.,327>441c.i.-TH350>PGlide/transbrake
08 Cobalt Coupe,2.2L-4T45E
69 & 75 C10s,350c.i.-TH350
86 S10,2.8L-700R4
73 Volvo 142,2.0L-MT4
72 & 73 VW SuperBeetles,1.6l-MT4
64 VW,1.2l-MT4
67 Dodge Monaco 500 2dr ht.,383c.i.-A727
56 Chevy 210 4dr,265c.i.-PGlide
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