Common questions

When to use a heavy duty thermal fan clutch?

When to use a heavy duty thermal fan clutch?

Heavy-Duty Thermal Fan Clutch: This fan style turns the fan at 70-90 percent of the shaft speed when engaged for increased cooling. When disengaged, it turns the fan at 25-35 percent. It’s used with deeper-pitch fans (2 1/2″ of pitch), and works well with higher operating rpm.

How does a fan clutch work on a radiator?

As hot air blows across the radiator, it heats a thermal spring mounted at the front of the clutch. As the spring is heated, it turns and allows valve ports to open within the clutch. Silicone fluid stored inside a reservoir is allowed to pass through these open ports and enter the working area of the clutch.

When do you know it’s time to replace the fan clutch?

According to Hayden, here are some signs your fan clutch might need replaced: Fan spins excessively when engine is stopped (three or more times when hot engine is shut off). Poor A/C performance at idle or low vehicle speeds. Fan speed does not increase when engine is hot.

Is the Dodge Ram 2500 a genuine car?

We offer a full selection of genuine Dodge Ram 2500 Fan Clutches, engineered specifically to restore factory performance. Please narrow the Cooling Fan Clutch results by selecting the vehicle.

What happens if you have a bum fan clutch?

A bum fan clutch drains horsepower from the engine to keep the mechanical fans running, which can ultimately lead to critical overheating, decreased fuel economy, and poor general performance. Thanks!

How can I tell if my fan clutch needs to be replaced?

Wiggle each of the fan blades individually to see if they feel damaged or displaced. Do the same for the metal housing that surrounds the fan itself. Loose, rattling pieces send a loud and clear message that you need to have your fan clutch replaced.

What causes radial streaks in a fan clutch?

Radial streaks are another potential clue—this happens when oil escapes from the clutch and is then blown outward in all directions by the fan. Inside the fan clutch, there is a small reservoir filled with a viscous silicone-based oil. The oil flows to and from the main chamber as engine heat fluctuates, engaging and disengaging the clutch.

What’s the best temperature to test a fan clutch?

Make sure your new fan clutch is the same type as the original. It’s possible to upgrade from a non-thermal clutch to a more efficient thermal model, but not the other way around. Keep your engine temperature below 210 °F (99 °C) while you’re running your tests to prevent it from overheating.

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Ruth Doyle