Topic: Added a electric fan to teh 2.5L this weekend WOW!

[jwrape]

I finally got around to wiring and mounting my 16" electric fan I got on Ebay for $15.  Well I took off the clutch fan and MAN was that thing heavy.
I installed the e-Fan and test drove the Jeep. MAN! there is a noticable difference. It's not a kick in the pants different but it is a definate difference in accelleration.
1) - The motor revs MUCH fast, especially over 3k rpms. The motor in 1st gear flies from 3krpms to 5krpms quick!
2) The motor feels like it doesn't have the drag that it had on it before.
3) Before the upgrade, I could close my eyes and ride in the Jeep and not know that I was accellerating. Now if I was to close my eyes I can actually feel some G-force pulling through the gears.

It is definatley a nice upgrade.

I would say that the two much have upgrades for the 2.5L is the 4.0 TB and the electric fan. Both add good low end and smoother acceleration.

[Jeffy]

What fan did you use?

[jwrape]

What fan did you use?

I don't know. I can't read spanish but here is the EBay ad
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8033906286&category=33600

[Jeffy]

Looks like a universal flex-a-lite.

[jwrape]

Looks like a universal flex-a-lite.

Yea, I can see that. It works good. Sits at the same temp as the clutch fan.
Gonna get a cooler temp thermostat though. I thought the electric fan might bring the temp down a couple degrees but it hasn't so I will be replacing the thermostat to 160 degree

[yellowta]

This is excellent knews. I found a ford taurus in the junk yard, had the eletric fan just sitting on the hood. Apparently someone had removed it to get the radiator out and didn't need the fan. I checked the part number, caled my buddy Swampy up to confirm, and it was just the one I wanted. Two speed electric fan :twisted:   I've got a wiring relay and temp switch kit from jegs, and I plan to run the high speed in place of the existing electric condensor fan.  I can't wait to get that mechanical fan off!

[jwrape]

This is excellent knews. I found a ford taurus in the junk yard, had the eletric fan just sitting on the hood. Apparently someone had removed it to get the radiator out and didn't need the fan. I checked the part number, caled my buddy Swampy up to confirm, and it was just the one I wanted. Two speed electric fan :twisted:   I've got a wiring relay and temp switch kit from jegs, and I plan to run the high speed in place of the existing electric condensor fan.  I can't wait to get that mechanical fan off!

I just bought a $10 JPC wiring kit for wiring addition fog lights and wired it up with a on/off switch and then wired the accessory power lead to the ignition where even if the switch is in the ON position that the fan won't come on until the ignition is in the running position.

The JPC kit came with all the wiring and switch and 30 amp relay. It was perfect for the install and was cheap. It was also the same wiring kit I used on my AUX. lights on my roof rack.

It works perfectly. The Jeep warms up as normal and gets to normal operating temp and stays there.

I wired the switch inline so that if I go through a river or something and submerge the front end that I can turn off the power before I hit the water and not worry about frying a fuse or the fan. :D

[yellowta]

I mounted a switch on the dash, I'm going to take an ignition hot line into it, so that it will come on with the engine, but I was worried about the engine getting up to temp since this fan is reputed to move a lot of air. Thus I got the temp swtich kit. Comes on at 180, off at 200.  I need to get another relay to run off of my condensor fan lead, I don't know if it is enough to handle the amperage of the high speed on the taurus fan. Next time I get a day off, I'll get it all installed and post up :wink:

[Jeffy]

You really want to run a high amp relay on that Taurus fan.  If you run a regular 30a, you risk the wiring heating up then shorting out and possibly catching fire.

[jwrape]

I mounted a switch on the dash, I'm going to take an ignition hot line into it, so that it will come on with the engine, but I was worried about the engine getting up to temp since this fan is reputed to move a lot of air. Thus I got the temp swtich kit. Comes on at 180, off at 200.  I need to get another relay to run off of my condensor fan lead, I don't know if it is enough to handle the amperage of the high speed on the taurus fan. Next time I get a day off, I'll get it all installed and post up :wink:

I have installed a few electric fans on different cars. The only one that I have had a issue with it getting up to temp is my 5.0 Mustang. I installed a 17" Volvo V70 in it and wired it directly to the ignition as well. The only thing is when it's REALLY cold out it takes a little more time to warm up. Usually takes me driving it before it will warm up. If I let it sit idling in the driveway waiting for it to warm up it will take longer. BUT to its defense, that Volvo fan pushes a ton of cfm's.

But it still gets to temp and on REALLY HOT days stays cooler than the clutch fan.
I think all vehicles should have electric fans.

BUT I will say, I am carrying my clutch fan in the back of the Jeep, especially on the trail in case the electric gives out.
My Mustang has gone through 3 other electric fans due to fan failure. The 1st fan locked up and burnt the wiring. The 2nd fan lost all but 4 fins off the fan going down the road. I guess the plastic just dried out and broke. The 3rd fan burnt up and now the Volvo fan is the best I have had.

But to the others defense, I bought all of them for under $35 shipped.  :D
I don't beleive in paying a lot for them.

[SMC4WD]

This is a great topic.  I'm sure it's something I will seriously look into.  

Inexpensive and increase engine performance...  Who can complain?

Two things hit me as I was reading...

#1 jwrape stating that he carries his factory fan & clutch along with him on the trail.  Great thinking!!  Insurance at it's greatest...  Take it with you, you'll be you'll never need it  :)

#2 jwrape stating:

3) Before the upgrade, I could close my eyes and ride in the Jeep and not know that I was accellerating. Now if I was to close my eyes I can actually feel some G-force pulling through the gears.

Dude...   I'll bet if you open your eyes, you can go even faster   Sorry man, but I laughed the first time I read that.  And I did understand what you meant.

[jackhammer]

great thread..I'll have to do some research

[Grundar32]

nice to hear about that volvo fan i work at a aftermarket volvo dealer and i just pulled a fan off one and was going to hook it up to my 95 yj and see how it would work... ive worked there over 13 years and have NEVER replaced one so they are definatly reliable ...

[littleredbeater]

any ideas on how many CFM you'll need on a continuous running electric fan to have sufficiant cooling in summer? I have a 2000cfm fan left over from another project I'm thinking about using. How much less effective do you think a fan would be mounted right to the radiator without a shroud? As soon as it warms up here I'm going to try this, I can almost drive up the hills near my house without downshifting........ just 5 more hp! haha

[trailerrails]

BUT I will say, I am carrying my clutch fan in the back of the Jeep, especially on the trail in case the electric gives out.
My Mustang has gone through 3 other electric fans due to fan failure.

I don't think you need to do that. I have my fan wired into a switch and I turn it on and off manualy. I only have it turned on about half the time. I turn it off if I need a power boost for smething. It is usally running when the going gets slow. If I am acually moving faster than 2mph then I realy don't need it. Basicly what I am saying is if it breaks then just make shure you keep moving while you make it back to the trail head. Or just keep one in the tow rig like I do.
Well on secong thought, most of you guys are probaly driving your rigs to the trail, so If you get stuck in traffic you are screwed.