Elect Fans & Intake?s

C & A s Dad · March 18, 2006

I am considering adding elect fans to my wife's 02 Yuk XL 5.3L with 4.10s. Its a daily driver but we tow a camper and I am looking for some extra HP, TQ and MPG if possible. GM has used e fans since 05 on their trucks and I have located a similar unit from Flex a lite designed to replace the mech fan on my truck. It comes on at 60% (3300CFM) at first and then increases if needed, to 100% (5500CFM) as the temp rises. My concern is sufficient airflow accross my a/c condensor and trans cooler at idle or at slow speeds. Flex a lite promises me that thier unit will flow far more air than the oe mech unit. My truck has a 140 amp alt. so I am really not concerned about the elect load.

Has anyone made this conversion and if so, what was your experience. Also I would like to hear from any 05 or 06 drivers which have e fans on their trucks from the factory?

One last thing, I am down to 2 cold air intakes, True Flows sealed unit or AFE's. I am not willing to sacrifice filtration for more HP and have do not want the noise of an open element. However, it appears that both test well against other foam or cotton filters. Anyone used either of these units and can comment of them?

VortecMax · March 20, 2006

I went through the same concerns last year. The recomendation I would give to you is to redirect your money for a Flexalite and put it into a programer. I bought a Hypertech programer, and Airraid coldair intake system, a throttlebody spacer and a few other toys for my 6.0L Sierra. I found the greatest gains from the programer and intake system. The thing I love about the Hypertech is that you can increase your shift points and firmness, as well as tune your truck to a high or low octane rating. I haul a 9.5 ft camper and a horse trailer and it does it effortlessly with these upgrades.

I had one mechanic suggest that if I truely wanted to know how much power I would bennefit by switching out the fan to an electric one, just remove your fan blades and go for a short drive. If you feel enough of an increase make your decision from there.

Good luck . Like to know what you decide.

C & A s Dad · March 20, 2006

Thanks, I think for now I will do the Hypertech and the True Flow Intake and will attempt to find an '05 or '06 elect fan assy from a salvage yard. This way it would be an OE type install.

I am curious, what type of intake do you have? I am wanting a sealed cold air system and am not really crazy about cotton gauze filters. I am in the Auto Parts business and have seen some of the "real" test results on these filters and they do not test well in the area of filtration. Of course this has been discussed before and everyone knows that you give to get. As of today, it looks like I am going with the True Flow set up.

Again, I would be interested in what you have on your trk?

torx · March 20, 2006

Thanks, I think for now I will do the Hypertech and the True Flow Intake and will attempt to find an '05 or '06 elect fan assy from a salvage yard. This way it would be an OE type install.

I am curious, what type of intake do you have? I am wanting a sealed cold air system and am not really crazy about cotton gauze filters. I am in the Auto Parts business and have seen some of the "real" test results on these filters and they do not test well in the area of filtration. Of course this has been discussed before and everyone knows that you give to get. As of today, it looks like I am going with the True Flow set up.

Again, I would be interested in what you have on your trk?

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one thing to consider with electric fans-you do get about 15 more hp but they are electrical now. If your alternator ever goes out your truck more than likely will overheat and you will be stuck. With the clutched fan this won't be a problem.

I have a volant CAI for the ram air option. I'm getting ready to switch to an AEM dryflow filter instead of the oiled one though. http://trucks.aempower.com/press_events_detail.asp?aid=54. Getting 0-4 mpg more with the volant ram cai. I wrote a review under member product reviews about it. Here's a link about air filters http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm