Recomended Electric Fan?

[Steve]

Hi,

Can anybody recomend an electric fan - size, brand?

I have been getting temps rising up to 94deg, when sitting in traffic on hot days, which I would like to get down a bit. I am going to upgrade to a VL radiator as well.

Also, it wouldnt hurt to get rid of the stock fan - gain a bit of mid range torque.

Any experiences, recommendations or warnings or general comments would be most welcome

cheers

Steve

[blind_elk]

I have a Davies-Craig DCL14 on my 32 atm. Its causing me no end of hassles.

Firstly, I had to have the A/C fan rewired so that it comes on when the A/C is switched on (ordinarily thermo-switched from the switch in the bottom of the radiator), otherwise the gas over-pressurises.

With a FMIC, the engine is quite susceptible to overheating. I had it out at Winton the other week, and the gauge tried to wrap itself around the H mark. Took about 15 minutes idling with bonnet up to cool down again. Lots of coolant being blown across into the overflow bottle.

I'm seriously considering putting the factory fan and shrouding back on. Actually, have driven it in Adelaide in 40 deg heat in the factory configuration, black car, A/C going full blast, and the temp gauge never budged.

My advice would be to leave it as Mr Nissan designed it. The couple of rwkw you'll gain isn't worth the worry.

Ever considered that the thermostat might be faulty?

[Steve]

Hey blindelk. thanks for the reply.

I dont think the thermostat is faulty, as it brings it up to temp pretty quick, and on open road there isnt too much hassle. Just when I get in to traffic, going between sets of lights etc - usual inner city stuff.

I do have a fmic, but looking at the radiator, it seems a little on the skinny side. The heat issue is the main prob, just thought it might have a power increase spinoff as a bonus.

Steve

[rev210]

thermo fans really need the fan shroud to do a good job of 'sucking' the air throught the radiator.

[Jay95R33]

I've got a Davies Craig DC-16 on mine. 16 inch version.

It JUST fit's the stock radiator and has about 30mm clearance at the back.

The 16 inch version can push 2200cfm of air while the 12 does 900 and I think the 14 does about 1400cfm.

Sadly the factory shroud won't fit with the 16incher on

But you can get kits that fit nicely with two 12 inchers with shroud and all. Seen them on a R32 GTR and it was a good fit.

blind_elk - sounds like your termo switch isn't adjusted right, plus it should have had a relay installed so that when the air con is on the thermo fan turns on. I hope you get it sorted out.

J

[Steve]

Thanks Rev210 and Jay95R33 - do you know who sells the twin themos with shrouds?

jay95R33 - have you had any probs with the 16in fan??

Cheers

Steve

[rev210]

I think you can always custom make a shroud. The shroud will make a big difference to the cooling. Even if you have to cut the factory one its worth trying to keep it.

[blind_elk]

Jay,

Yeah, got it all sorted, wired thru a relay. And the DC thermo uses the original thermo switch as its trigger.

Might actually look at positioning the DC thermo so that I can use the shroud as well.

[Jay95R33]

Yeah, if you can make a shroud for it it'll work much better.

You can buy the Davies Craig fans through Super Cheap Auto !!

I've had no problems with mine. The temp sits a little higher than normal (about 2 needles worth) but when it get's there it doesn't move regardless of outside temps, driving speed etc.

J

[Steve]

Thanks for all your replies, think I might have to pay super cheap autos a visit - and keep the shroud!

Anybody else had dramas with the A/C switch and thermo fan set up like blind_elk? Any tips

Cheers

Steve

[Clint32]

Steve i fitted 2 x 12'' fans to mine to make the cooler piping better. With a large FMIC the temp goes up a bit in the heat but not too hot.

Just a tip, go to repco and get a price on 11'' fans, these are made by davies craig and are actually a 11'' fan which davies craig sell as 12'' (they measure the outside not the fan size), the repco ones were a lot cheaper. cost me $160 or so for both.

Still working on the temp issue at the moment they are on a switch. But the fan infront of the rad switches on at about 90deg and is activated by the sensor in the radiator. Im looking at getting a lower temp switch to go in the radiator and using this to give the realy for the fans power.

[Steve]

Hi Clint, thanks for that. Is the switch you use supplied with the fans, or do you buy them seperately?

Are you using a shroud, if so, did you get it from repco as well?

How do you find the cooling after they switch on, does the temp rise much above 90C?

cheers

Steve

[Clint32]

steve the fans come with everything you need to fit them all you need to do is give the realy power to switch the fans on, so i used my own switch.

in not using any shroud as i made a aluminium mount for them to bolt to, i didnt like the idea of poking holes through the radiator.

the temp gets up to 80deg then i switch the fans on, the temp will go up to 90deg on really hot days and after you give it a bit of a thrash. I dont think i would like to give it a thrash on a 35deg + day unless i got a new radiator ($650 PWR alloy one)

You can get twin fans mounted together with a shroud from repco as well but it was twice as much to buy.

[Steve]

Thanks again Clint. So would the relay normally be fitted to a thermo switch if you wanted it to actuate automatically? did you just wire up a switch for convenience? or do you use it as well as a thermostat.

Has anybody hooked up a themostatically controlled relay? And if so, how did you do it? (themostat placement, type etc)

Cheers for any help

Steve

[Clint32]

You need to use the relay no matter how it is switched on so it gets a good power supply. I tried to use a temp sensor to activate it but the probe wouldnt go down the radiator hose so i just fitted a switch.

[Steve]

Thanks again Clint

[Jay95R33]

I used the thermo switch on mine.

Getting the probe in the top radiator hose is a right pain in the butt. Then you have to tighten the living crap out of the clamp so the hose doesn't leak.

Works like a dream.

You set the temp up so it's about 5 degrees hotter than normal (going by the instructions) so that the fan only turn on when the thermostat opens and lets the hot water through, then turns off once the water in the radiator has cooled.

The instructions say that if you've got it adjusted right, in winter the fans might only come on for a minute of two at the most then turn off. Summer it will stay on for somewhat longer.

I can arrange for some pics if you want..

J

[Steve]

Thanks Jay, sounds like a job for tilbrooks

[whatsisname]

Steve,

My set-up is the same as J's (from the sounds of it) DC16 with thermo s/w & no room for the factory shroud. I used sealant & a well tightened clamp to ensure no leaks from the thermocouple line in the top pipe.

I've had mine for a few yrs now & apart from 2 blown fuses (poor quality fuse holder - replaced with a quality one) it's worked very well. Temp's sit @ ~82'c (hits 92'c if really hot & pushing it). I've been in bumper to bumper near 40'c heat A/C on full blast & the temp gauge hardly moved up @ all (yes my temp gauge works).

The size, type & postioning of a FMIC can really effect running temps! I noticed Steve that you FMIC is a bar & plate (actually looked more of a bar-fin?) These FMIC's seem to pose more of a restriction for airflow through to the radiator.

I actually contacted Davies Craig (or is that Craig David ) & gave them a run down on my car, they suggested the DSL16 over a set of smaller twins! Maybe go for a 16 & a smaller one beside it. If it'll fit? Use a good quality coolant & add a bottle of Redline Water Wetter & you should have no problems.

If I was into pushing my car hard around a race track (round & round type ) I be going for a radiator upgrade straight up! For the occassional drag run & spirited road use in all weather the DC16 is great

[Steve]

Thanks whatsisname, might have to see repco and do a price comaprison with the twin 12"s and single 16". I like the idea of getting a shroud though - may as well go the whole nine yards! Might be fun trying to make one though?