• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Why do I have two fans?


Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
I've owned my truck for 10 years and not until today did I find out it has 2 fans...

I was tossing around the idea of getting rid of the clutch fan and installing an electric so I went to measure the shroud to see what size I needed. Stuck my hand in there only to find, it already has an electric fan!

So whats the deal, why is there 2 fans on this thing? Seems like it's not only redundant but also counter productive.
 


Denisefwd93

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 20, 2015
Messages
2,261
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
South East PA
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
stock, may get leveling springs in front "somday"
Tire Size
235
I thought you were talking about your fan club!


Secondary fan rigged up like that to help with cooling when towing or very hot region? How's it wired?
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Considering I only just realized it exists I'm not sure how its wired or when it comes on. I know it never runs after the truck is shut off like some electric fan cars do because I would have herd it running at some point in 10 years.

But you would think when it's not running its just blocking air from the clutch fan or vice versa.
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,658
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Maybe, JUST MAYBE, it acts like a turbo for the other fan. Yeah, that's it, and then the, uh... Mechanical fan spins and creates wind, which in turn, spins the secondary fan. Right? Now that the secondary fan is spinning, the mechanical fan doesn't have to work so hard.... Yeah, that sounds about right, I'm a genius...:icon_idea:
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,490
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I think the electric one is A/C related on the newer 4cyl trucks.

I have an electric pusher and a mechanical puller flexfan. When the engine is running at a stop the mechancal fan windmills the efan.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Now im curious to figure out when it turns on and if it actually even still works...
 

8thTon

Well-Known Member
--- Banned ---
Joined
Jan 13, 2019
Messages
1,378
Reaction score
806
Points
113
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
My world is filled with stuff that needs to be fixed
Many years ago I had a new '86 Escort GT, with 5spd. It had AC and no speed control, and the spedometer was mechanical - it had no way to know road speed at all. However, there was some failure where the AC wold only run at speeds of over 40mph - it didn't matter at all what gear you were in, or if it was in neutral, or the rpm. Once the car dropped below 40 the AC shut off.

It had a fan controller that took an input from the AC switch and ran the cooling fan and the AC clutch. I traced that circuit and it turned out transistor had failed, and what happened was that at 40mph the cooling fan spun fast enough to generate a voltage that allowed the AC clutch to come on. The fan was an air speed measurement device!
 

Plum Ranger XLT

Active Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
440
Reaction score
29
Points
28
Location
Lawrenceburg, IN
Vehicle Year
2008
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
I bought my 2008 Ranger new and it has both the electric fan and clutch fan and it does have a/c and the electric fan comes on when I turn on the a/c and when I turn on the defrost.
 

Denisefwd93

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 20, 2015
Messages
2,261
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
South East PA
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
stock, may get leveling springs in front "somday"
Tire Size
235
Is a larger mystery is... how do you own a truck for 10 years and not know you have two fans!
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
The electric fan is for AC operation. I believe it will also kick on to prevent over-heating if the computer sees the temps go too high.

I do believe others have removed the mechanical fan and relied only on the E-fan with acceptable results.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Is a larger mystery is... how do you own a truck for 10 years and not know you have two fans!
Its burried under the fan shroud, impossible to see it without removing something. I physically felt it at first and then had to use a mirror to actually take a peek at it. I've never needed to repair anything in that area. :dunno:
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,259
Reaction score
615
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
All duratec trucks with AC came with a clutch fan as well as an Efan.
I used an Efan from one in my truck with an aftermarket controller/temp sensor because the shroud fits the Ranger radiator better than anything else.
 

Denisefwd93

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 20, 2015
Messages
2,261
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
South East PA
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
stock, may get leveling springs in front "somday"
Tire Size
235
I want one!
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
You can have mine! I still think this concept is dumb... if the fan only comes on with ac, then having the electric fan is blocking airflow for the damn clutch fan in every other situation.
 

Denisefwd93

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 20, 2015
Messages
2,261
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
South East PA
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
stock, may get leveling springs in front "somday"
Tire Size
235
I would have to say it's a great idea knowing how hot it gets under that hood, like today, must get well over 200! And don't forget no matter how many fans there are, the air has no way to escape, it would be even hotter so if you're stuck in traffic.

I've I've always why automotive design has always kept the heat under the hood instead of designing in
ways for the heat to escape
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top