I'm planning on doing a cooling system overhaul next week. While browsing the forums I read that some upgrade the fan clutch and blades to a explorer system. Some said it was a success and a few people said that it was harder on the belts and they had higher temps at idle. Some posts said it made their cooling worse, which is hard to believe if you're pushing more air.
Who here has done it and had long term success? Is it worthwhile?
Converting the factory serpentine belt driven fan to an electric is a downgrade. Really. If it wasn't the majority of us desert wheelers would have converted years ago. Don't do it. Really. As designed, the factory cooling system has way more excess cooling capacity than most are aware of.
I believe he is talking about the composite Ford fan blade. I thought about it myself, but read too many undecided or slightly negative comments after the conversion...
Side question: My coolant leak is coming front the front of the engine and dripping around the harmonic balancer/front of oil pan. I assume it's the water pump?
I am starting on my third year with the Explorer fan. The stock belt initially slipped enough to leave a small amount of rubber deposits on the the idler. Switched to "Continental Elite Poly-v" belt and no rubber deposits since. I do carry a new stock belt just in case. I bought a new 11 blade Exp plastic fan and a Hayden HD clutch.
Fan - Motorcraft YA220, Clutch - Hayden 2794 premium. Junk yard fans are widely available but by now they are very old and most have cracks. The stock clutch is probably acceptable.
I think it is inevitable that the water pump will start leaking, but I am good so far.
PaulW
I am considering this one on a Hayden severe duty clutch. One TJ owner posted he tested it and it worked well above his stock fan for cfm at idle and through the rpms one would be driving around town. He used a Fluke 922 airflow meter...
There is a very long thread that discusses the potential upgrades to the mechanical fan. I'll try to look for it later. There are definitely some who are believers. Personally, I tried it and went back to normal TJ fan.
I installed the explorer fan and fan clutch on my 06 Sport. Significant improvement in cooling at highway speeds and on the trail.
I reside in So Cal and wheel in the desert and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Rig never even hits 210 degrees on steep freeway grades or crawling the Rubicon Trail. I use an aftermarket digital gauge to verify actual temp readings.
I installed the explorer fan and fan clutch on my 06 Sport. Significant improvement in cooling at highway speeds and on the trail.
I reside in So Cal and wheel in the desert and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Rig never even hits 210 degrees on steep freeway grades or crawling the Rubicon Trail. I use an aftermarket digital gauge to verify actual temp readings.
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