Anyone removed clutch fan and replaced with electric?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by JBF

Never understand people who go to all of that expense and effort to 'upgrade' and old car. I'd rather spend the money buying something that was designed to have more power in the first place. Takes all sorts I guess

Some people like to tinker and upgrade cars. Everyone has their own ideas of how to enjoy their vehicles.

I don't understand people who invest money into wine cellars or cigar humidors but I don't belittle them on the forums dedicated to those subjects.

BTW... on my e30 318is turbo, replaced the stock clutch fan with big volvo efan (~15 bucks at pick n pull). Dyno'd before and after and gained over 10rwhp. LOL which for a little 1.8L 4 is a lot.

[Helihover]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Some people like to tinker and upgrade cars. Everyone has their own ideas of how to enjoy their vehicles.

I don't understand people who invest money into wine cellars or cigar humidors but I don't belittle them on the forums dedicated to those subjects.

BTW... on my e30 318is turbo, replaced the stock clutch fan with big volvo efan (~15 bucks at pick n pull). Dyno'd before and after and gained over 10rwhp. LOL which for a little 1.8L 4 is a lot.

Finally a before and after!

I just recently pulled the fan on my little (200 hp) car. Huge difference. Pretty much everything said above plus my mpg went up around 1 mile! That's what I'm shooting for is mpg. My goal is 30mpg in my small car.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Helihover

Finally a before and after!

I just recently pulled the fan on my little (200 hp) car. Huge difference. Pretty much everything said above plus my mpg went up around 1 mile! That's what I'm shooting for is mpg. My goal is 30mpg in my small car.

What car are you talking about? My 91 318is would get 30mpg city and 38ish on the highway before the turbo.

The mechanical fan really is a pretty big drag on the engine, and I'm sure has a negative effect on the water pump bearing over time. But as far as temps go, the computer should have no problem. If anything the Efan will keep the engine cooler than the mech fan because the mech fan changes rpm with engine speed... the Efan does not.

[J.Belknap]

Originally Posted by trader4

If the engine computer opens the thermostat fully and expects water at X temp and instead gets it at a different temp, does it have some effect on what the engine or engine computer does?

If the T-stat is full open and water temp is too high, retarded timing is the least of the worries.

[TiAgX5]

First owner 4.6is (top BMW performance X5 model thru 2003), looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor too.

[JBF]

I'm sure he's done an amazing job with it, I can fully understand wanting to keep the car in showroom condition (preserve a piece of history), just not the 'upgrades'. That said when I think about a 4x4 performance is really not that important hence my X being a diesel If I wanted something high-performance I'd buy a sports car.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by JBF

I'm sure he's done an amazing job with it, I can fully understand wanting to keep the car in showroom condition (preserve a piece of history), just not the 'upgrades'. That said when I think about a 4x4 performance is really not that important hence my X being a diesel If I wanted something high-performance I'd buy a sports car.

I have always built sleepers and have always added performance mods on everything I have owned, including sports stars. I never choose a vehicle that is expected to be fast or handle like a sports car. That's what I like to do.

[bcredliner]

I ran some errands yesterday. It was 91 degrees. Total distance was 21 miles. I made 3 stops. First stop was at 6.5 miles. By that time the coolant was at operating temp. When I returned about 30 minutes later the fan was coming on about every 2 minutes and stayed on for 15-20 seconds. Next stop was in two miles. When I returned in 40 minutes the fan was not cycling on and off. Last stop was under 2-3 minutes at abut 17 miles. Fan was running when I got in and had not gone to the cycling. When I got home I listened for the fan. It cycled the 15-20 bursts 12 times for just under 30 minutes. During the jaunt the temp gauge was solid at normal position. No noticeable impact on the battery.

What I observed:

Engine free revs quicker.
When I start the engine it revs higher before it settles to an idle.
I know by pressure on the gas pedal about the speed I am traveling. When I checked the speedometer I was almost ten over. I had to adjust pedal pressure to be within the usual under 5 over. The engine response was also improved when the coolant was at operating temp. I translate this into improvement in acceleration. I think that if I am accelerating from a dead stop the improvement will be greater, similar but to a smaller degree how a lightweight flywheel behind a manual transmission can improve 1/4 mile times.

Obviously, I have no documentation. And, I understand since I don't and I believed there would be improvement it can be only in my mind.

I will be driving over 100 miles without stopping on Friday. I will post what happens. Just for grins, I will do a couple of pedal to the medal runs down on ramps and at highway speed (75-80).

[bcredliner]

The engine thermostat will keep the engine at the same temperature as before. Since I retained the original shroud the cooling sensors located there remain functional.

Since I have already eliminated the possibility the EF will not cool enough that leaves the possibility the fan cools the engine faster than the CF did. That's fine.

The EF temp controller is adjustable. I have it set so that it turns on just before the electric pusher fan was activated to supplement the previous CF fan. The controller has a temp probe that is inserted in the radiator fins. It doesn't have to be in contact with coolant because and error can be corrected by adjusting the EF controller.

The engine thermostat coupled with cooling fan(s) is intended to keep the engine at the level of efficiency BMW desires. That determination is based some number of factors, like mileage, emissions etc., maximum HP is not likely attainable with the OE thermostat. Now that I know the EF cools better than the CF fan I will check if there is a lower temperature thermostat which quite likely will further increase performance.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Since I have already eliminated the possibility the EF will not cool enough that leaves the possibility the fan cools the engine faster than the CF did. That's fine.

You will be fine... as you said the thermostat and ECU will take care of over cooling. And if your efan is as good as the efan on my car (granted different setup) then you WILL be over cooling. At 110 ambient, my efan can cool the engine to 180 degrees in traffic.