Stock radiator fan vs electric radiator fan

Eddie Greenlee

Eddie Greenlee

TJ Addict
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2016
Messages
2,613
Location
Mississippi
Just wondering if an electric fan would be beneficial over the stock motor driven radiator fan???
Ive heard it can increase horse power, ive heard they are better than the standard fan for cooling.
ive heard you can get them off of other jeep (XJ)
SO im hoping yall can set me straight. thanks
 
Andy5150 said:
The stock set up rules. There's no benefit to change it.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! Think about this. The factory doesn't want warranty claims so they design/ build what works for their package. Horsepower gain? One or two but at what cost and in reality probably couldn't tell the difference anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StG58 and Eddie Greenlee
Agreed with everyone above, you can't really put together your own cooling system that's going to work as well as the OE cooling system... especially with an electric fan... that is going to outperform the OE cooling system when it is working as designed. When the OE cooling system is not cooling well enough, that just means something fixable needs to be fixed... not that you need to change its design. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: TJRick, Stinger, Eddie Greenlee and 1 other person
I'm late to the party, but there is NO reason at all to start upgrading parts in your cooling system. The stock cooling system is more than enough for 99% of us.

This is truly one of those things where "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Wasting money on aluminum radiators and such is just that... a waste of money.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
I just made a slight edit. ;)
Click to expand...

I could see those who have modified their engine needing extra cooling capacity, but for the most part I agree with you. (turbo, supercharger, stroker, etc.)

Have I mentioned that I can actually see when my thermostat opens and closes now with my new Northern Radiator? It always stayed in the same position with the original and china junk replacement radiator (just past the 1 in "210"). Now it actually cools enough to close the thermostat then the temp climbs back to the point where it opens again. I have a feeling I was at the cooling capacity of the OE radiator and now I have additional cooling capacity which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Only question now is how long this radiator will last.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eddie Greenlee
Just for the sake of argument, wouldn't it benefit someone who does deep water crossings to go electric?
Edit: that probably falls into the 1%, but if everything else is upgradable, why would the cooling system be the one thing that isn't?
 
Last edited:
sgtjdgelinas said:
Just for the sake of argument, wouldn't it benefit someone who does deep water crossings to go electric?
Click to expand...
Is it really an issue or is it just an internet myth? I can't really see what it would hurt unless you entered the water while the clutch was locked up at near WOT. I have no practical knowledge though, any water that deep around these parts is moving fast enough to take you with it.
 
sgtjdgelinas said:
Just for the sake of argument, wouldn't it benefit someone who does deep water crossings to go electric?
Edit: that probably falls into the 1%, but if everything else is upgradable, why would the cooling system be the one thing that isn't?
Click to expand...

I'm confused... Wouldn't you want less electronics if you were doing water crossings?

If you do deep water crossings, you've got a lot more to worry about. That water will literally rot your TJ from the inside out (axles, body, frame, etc.) in short order.

One reason I stay away from water crossings. It's either @JeepNWilly or @Goblin (can't remember which one) that can speak to this from first hand experience!
 
If the engine is hot, the fan clutch would have the fan locked so it was forced to spin. If you drive into deep water like that, the plastic fan blades can definitely be drawn into the radiator and damage it. I'm no fan of electric fans but if I had to do regular water crossings by necessity, I'd install an electric fan with a switch so the fan could be shut off before a water crossing.
 
xxdabroxx said:
Is it really an issue or is it just an internet myth? I can't really see what it would hurt unless you entered the water while the clutch was locked up at near WOT. I have no practical knowledge though, any water that deep around these parts is moving fast enough to take you with it.
Click to expand...
Well HMMWV's have electric fans, and I know that has nothing to do with fuel economy or HP.
I wouldn't think it was an internet myth when the military takes precautions against it. Though I have to assume most tj owners will never do deep water fording like we do in the Marine Corps. Haha.
 
certainly something to ponder. but ill leave it be for now. one comment i can add is , engines are designed to run at certain temps to run effectivitly. If it doesnt get to a certain temp. and stay there i would imagine it would never make it up to the right horse power. or burn off carbon or .... i may be wrong about all that but if its designed to run at 210 then ill bet its most efficient that way.
 
Top Bottom
Back