Dreaded noisy fan

[RedDakooter05]

Well my 70 GT0, 69 Impala, 96 GT Mustang, 94 Ranger didn't sound like a squirell getting chopped to pieces, But hey! after owning a 2008 F250 Diesal with a Delete and Tuner I was expecting something quiter. I guess I'll look around and ask more about deleting the clutch fan for and electric fan. Maybe I'll get even sneakier getting into my hunting honey hole without watching the Whitetail go over the horizon.

Shouldn't be too difficult. There's a bleeder port out in the open if you chose temp sensor route.

Sponsored

 

[Jhbryaniv]

The rivians trucks are silent.

 

[KJRR]

Nope! Just hard of hearing & Tetnitus from years of chainsaws. Finally got a hearing aid and guess what? I got a truck that sounds like s*it! LOL!!

Well hell, that's an easy fix. Remove the hearing aids. Works for me when I hear noise I don't like, like the wife for example. ?

 

[Muffin1]

Those wires that are routed inside that protective hose thingy would the E fan have a connection for those?
I’m not sure even what they are or what they do.
I’m guessing here but I think the Ranger is the only vehicle in Fords lineup that uses a C fan, and I’ll never understand why.

 

[Big Blue]

Those wires that are routed inside that protective hose thingy would the E fan have a connection for those?
I’m not sure even what they are or what they do.
I’m guessing here but I think the Ranger is the only vehicle in Fords lineup that uses a C fan, and I’ll never understand why.

What wires INSIDE what hose thingy? If you are talking about the wires running along the OUTIDE of the hose, those are to control the clutch engagement. That hose thingy has nothing inside it and is there only to stop the clutch module from spinning with the fan.

The fans engagement is controlled by the ECU based on a number of factors. I'm sure our resident tech expert @airline tech could explain it better. Normally when the truck is cold the fan should be disengaged to let the truck warm up and reduce load on the engine. The reason for the cold start howl is this. The fan clutch is a fluid clutch, much like the torque converter in the transmission. When the engine is stopped the fluid in it drains to the bottom, so on a cold start, the fluid is also thicker, the clutch is essentially locked up, because it takes some time for the fluid to warm up and distribute itself. This combined with the high cold idle causes the howl. Once the clutch fluid gets properly distributed and warmed up the ECU can then control the amount of engagement (slippage) and the howl goes away.

The reason for the clutched fan is probably two-fold. First, fuel economy, when cruising at highway speeds there is enough air flow the fan is not needed and can be disengaged to reduce engine load. Second, when operating at slower speeds with higher engine loads and RPMs, such as off road, it allows the fan to engage and provide the air flow to cool the engine. Yes, an electric fan can do similar things. The thing with electrical fans is to provide the same range of air flow the would need to be much large and add a higher load on the electrical system. In a highway only vehicle with a relatively narrow range of need they can work well. In a truck especially one used off road with a wide range of cooling needs the direct driven controlled clutch fan works better.

As side note. My '70 Cuda had a non-controlled clutched fan that had similar howl/roar issues on cold starts especially in winter. It is something you just learn to live with.

I welcome your comment or disagreement.

 

[pbethel]

Us old guys are used to the mechanical fans of the 50's, 60's, and 70's where quietness was valued more than cooling by the makers, sellers, and buyers of cars and trucks.

 

[airline tech]

Those wires that are routed inside that protective hose thingy would the E fan have a connection for those?
I’m not sure even what they are or what they do.
I’m guessing here but I think the Ranger is the only vehicle in Fords lineup that uses a C fan, and I’ll never understand why.

Negative:
5-Wires in that harness

Power - (Fused) - This would be the only wire that can be used for a Elec Cooling Fan
FSS - Fan Speed Sensor
Fan Speed Control - (PWM) Pulse Width Modulated
Crank Sensor (5-Volt -VREF)
Cam Sensor - (5-Volt-VREF)

 

[Muffin1]

What wires INSIDE what hose thingy? If you are talking about the wires running along the OUTIDE of the hose, those are to control the clutch engagement. That hose thingy has nothing inside it and is there only to stop the clutch module from spinning with the fan.

The fans engagement is controlled by the ECU based on a number of factors. I'm sure our resident tech expert @airline tech could explain it better. Normally when the truck is cold the fan should be disengaged to let the truck warm up and reduce load on the engine. The reason for the cold start howl is this. The fan clutch is a fluid clutch, much like the torque converter in the transmission. When the engine is stopped the fluid in it drains to the bottom, so on a cold start, the fluid is also thicker, the clutch is essentially locked up, because it takes some time for the fluid to warm up and distribute itself. This combined with the high cold idle causes the howl. Once the clutch fluid gets properly distributed and warmed up the ECU can then control the amount of engagement (slippage) and the howl goes away.

The reason for the clutched fan is probably two-fold. First, fuel economy, when cruising at highway speeds there is enough air flow the fan is not needed and can be disengaged to reduce engine load. Second, when operating at slower speeds with higher engine loads and RPMs, such as off road, it allows the fan to engage and provide the air flow to cool the engine. Yes, an electric fan can do similar things. The thing with electrical fans is to provide the same range of air flow the would need to be much large and add a higher load on the electrical system. In a highway only vehicle with a relatively narrow range of need they can work well. In a truck especially one used off road with a wide range of cooling needs the direct driven controlled clutch fan works better.

As side note. My '70 Cuda had a non-controlled clutched fan that had similar howl/roar issues on cold starts especially in winter. It is something you just learn to live with.

I welcome your comment or disagreement.

Yes I mis-described that part, with the hood open I watched the fan and all it’s howl glory for a few moments to see if it would stop spinning after the initial fluid warm up it didn’t not sure what the time frame for it to react( and it was about 40*) now it may have slowed a little i wasn’t sure, thanks for that great explanation.

Negative:
5-Wires in that harness

Power - (Fused) - This would be the only wire that can be used for a Elec Cooling Fan
FSS - Fan Speed Sensor
Fan Speed Control - (PWM) Pulse Width Modulated
Crank Sensor (5-Volt -VREF)
Cam Sensor - (5-Volt-VREF)

So without those other wires being connected to their respective points it seems a E fan is not a possible retrofit you have great info as usual.

 

[Dgc333]

Yes I mis-described that part, with the hood open I watched the fan and all it’s howl glory for a few moments to see if it would stop spinning after the initial fluid warm up it didn’t not sure what the time frame for it to react( and it was about 40*) now it may have slowed a little i wasn’t sure, thanks for that great explanation.




So without those other wires being connected to their respective points it seems a E fan is not a possible retrofit you have great info as usual.

FWIW, I have never seen a mechanically driven clutch fan stop spinning completely.

Also, if you start mucking with the wiring to the clutch you will very likely cause a check engine light and could possibly put the engine into limit mode.

 

[Muffin1]

FWIW, I have never seen a mechanically driven clutch fan stop spinning completely.

Also, if you start mucking with the wiring to the clutch you will very likely cause a check engine light and could possibly put the engine into limit mode.

Oh i agree and have no plans to do that, it's baked in that this vehicle platform is clutch fan only and not a candidate for a 'mod' to a e-fan due to those sensors that airline tech posted.

Sponsored