Radiator Electric Fan

[DevilDog]

Looking to add an electric fan to the radiator. Anybody do this? What size, model, and fasteners did you use? Is there one that can fit on the front? Is there one that fits between the radiator and the fan? Of course all the purchasing details would be appreciated.
Cheers.....

[cass3958]

I do not particularly like the electric fans.

If your engine is overheating there is a problem elsewhere and putting an electric fan on the front is masking the true problem.

Never had a problem with overheating on my car. I am a believer that Jaguar never had a problem with overheating when the cars were new so just used the fan on the front of the block. Engines that do start to overheat are those that are twenty plus years old, have not been maintained properly, where the radiator is clogged with silt and the engine oil is dirty so the oil ways are blocked.

Oil cools the engine more than the water so you would be better off fitting an oil cooler than an electric fan.

First though clean the inside of your engine and as your engine Joe is or has been rebuilt you should not have a problem with overheating so should not need an electric fan.

[NigelW]

I've got an electric fan on mine for several reasons I think I've posted about before. I've had the original fan detach its self from the water pump at high speed and drill it's way through the radiator resulting in the car filling with steam and being totally blind on the motorway. That was enough to send me down the electric fan route on it's own. Another reason is that I have an uprated radiator and the original fan is not up to the job of pulling enough air through it . It also gets the engine up to temperature quicker and use less fuel and reduces wear and in this day and age lower emissions. With the original setup in the winter when I used the car every day to get to work I used to have to blank off part of the radiator to get it to warm up. One last benefit is that it gives you a few more horsepower although you'd never notice.

In an answer to Joe's question, I have a Kenlow fitted but now not available to retail sales as they only supply to car manufacturers as an OEM item. Suggest you have a look at summitracing.com who usually have a good range of fans. Something to be aware of is that it will put a strain on the electrical supply especially at night stuck in a traffic jam with the lights on. On my car I have an alternator with 650 ah XJ6 battery.

[Orlando St.R]

I do not particularly like the electric fans.

+1 to that.

[Orlando St.R]

It's probably also worth mentioning, Joe, the importance of installing the correct sleeved thermostat, that, when open, blocks off flow through the radiator bypass hose. If you don't have the correct thermostat, no fan - electric or mechanical - will keep the engine cool because insufficient coolant will actually be flowing through the radiator.

The SNGB version isn't perfect (the sleeve diameter is too small and depth a bit too short) but it's available and will mostly do the job:

c3731-1.jpg (70.63 KiB) Viewed 2715 times

[NigelW]

Have a look at Watjag for the thermostat, they will machine your housing to take the one they sell - I have one on mine.

http://www.derek-watson.co.uk/newproducts.php

[Glyn Ruck]

The SNGB item works just fine. The whole of hot SA uses them. The S Type manifold already has a reduced bypass slot compared with earlier engines.

The Watjag item is certainly a more precise piece.

[Orlando St.R]

The Watjag item is certainly a more precise piece.

+1 to that, though not so practical for Joe, from the USA.

[NigelW]

I'm sure Derek could sort something out for anyone not in the UK, he's come to my rescue a few times with parts.

[DevilDog]

Thanks everyone for the great comments....