fan clutch issues????

[expeditionman]

so i need a little insight here.

my engine when it runs at normal idle sounds like it's at high rev, (sounds like one of them industrial blowers when i start the motor)

what is the actual purpose for the clutch, i have replaced quite a few through the years but still dont know its function.....lol

what are the common syptoms and if its bad what damage will i do to the motor if i dont replace it right away, as i cant afford a new one at this time

any help is greatly appreciated

 

[Blue Bomber]

the fan clutch is ment to make the engine run more efficiently. the fan clutch is usually (im not saying your is) controlled by temperature. when the fan clutch gets hot it locks and spins the fan at the same speed the pulley is turning. when its cold it unlocks and lets the fan slip so it dosent over cool the engine.
to check my fan clutch i let the engine get good and hot, then turn it off and try to turn the fan. if there is a more resistance than when its cold, i say its good. if its really easy to turn when its hot, i would say its time for a new one.

 

[blacksnapon]

In addition, they can go bad and get out of balance, which will take out your water pump.

 

[TexasNomad]

That dose sound like the clutch is going out..
Get a electric fan

 

[SuperCab]

why an e-fan?

 

[Skandocious]

why an e-fan?

MORE POWER!!!!!

 

[SuperCab]

Ok tim allen, have you considered that they draw electicity, which means you probably need a bigger alternator, and alternators require engine power to turn, so you ultimately get


LESS POWER!!!!!

 

[Skandocious]

Matt my efan only runs about 1% of the time that I'm driving... So do the math-- I have more power 99% of the time

 

[TexasNomad]

And that is some thing me and Chris can agree on 100% Efan pwns Mfans

 

[Bob Ayers]

If the mechanical fan clutch is working properly, there will be absolutely no advantage to the e-fan. Whenever you go through an energy conversion (electrical to mechanical) with the e-fan, there are losses, due to the efficiency being no where near 100%. E-fans also don't have anywhere
close to the cooling capacity of a mechanical fan, and due to all the parts
(electric motor, wiring & connectors, relays, and temp controller) an e-fan is way less reliable than a mechanical fan.


This e-fan poll from RF tells the story about aftermarket e-fans:

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=69440&highlight=e-fan+poll

 

[TexasNomad]

Too each his own, but I know one thing after installing my Flexalite fan on a toggle switch i'll never go back to a Mfan again..

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

To the op I would replace it and if it still does it dont worry about it.

 

[expeditionman]

thanks for the suggestions yall! would it be possible that i just got too much dirt and mud on it from the last time i went off road??

i did dip the front end a bit deep and the fan started kickin up water

 

[TexasNomad]

YOu could hook up a fan with a toggle switch and turn it off when your going in deep.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Probly so try to put some wd on it or take it off and spray it down with a power washer.

 

[expeditionman]

Probly so try to put some wd on it or take it off and spray it down with a power washer.

wonder if i can just pressure wash the whole engine???

kinda nervous to do that with them damned COP's i hear they are very sensitive to moisture

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

I would worry more about your distributor cap gettin wet. If ya have one I dont mess with new trucks.

 

[SuperCab]

Plus, the motor on the e-fan creates heat, which seems kinda backwards for a cooling fan.

My truck has the stock fixed fan, and I know it robs power, but if I was gonna replace it, I'd go with a clutch fan, not a e-fan.

 

[expeditionman]

I would worry more about your distributor cap gettin wet. If ya have one I dont mess with new trucks.

nope no distributor on the 5.4, hence the reason for the coil on each plug, which btw is a over head cam setup so the plugs and coils sit on top of the intake straight up and down.....lol.......maybe i oughta get it steamed cleaned instead...too many places for the water to sit

 

[d-kuzmen]

nope no distributor on the 5.4, hence the reason for the coil on each plug, which btw is a over head cam setup so the plugs and coils sit on top of the intake straight up and down.....lol.......maybe i oughta get it steamed cleaned instead...too many places for the water to sit

If you spray it stay away from the coils, the engine will skip when your done. Make sure you can spin the fan by hand some clutchs fail and stick on full all the time giving you excessive noise and possible vibration at high rpm, if the fan turns and doess't wobble I wouldn't worry about it, they tend to be a little nosiey when first started up cold, after the engine is run for a few min and generates some heat the fan should calm down and act normal.