E-fan Conversion

[Redhell]

I am new to the forum and have a very limited knowledge of engines. I would like to know if anyone has converted to the electric cooling fans. Does it really make a difference over the mechanical clutch fan, and where would I go to get one? (the brand name and address). Thanks.

[jrrod2004]

I am new to the forum and have a very limited knowledge of engines. I would like to know if anyone has converted to the electric cooling fans. Does it really make a difference over the mechanical clutch fan, and where would I go to get one? (the brand name and address). Thanks.

 

 

They do give a slight increase in the MPG you get (typically 1-2mpg depending on driving habits). I personally have not done a conversion since mine came with electric fans, but there was someone who posted where to get the parts on doing a conversion like this.

[bossier62guy]

I am new to the forum and have a very limited knowledge of engines. I would like to know if anyone has converted to the electric cooling fans. Does it really make a difference over the mechanical clutch fan, and where would I go to get one? (the brand name and address). Thanks.

 

I put a flex-a-lite 292 unit on my 02. I like it for several reasons. First of all the access to the engine is increased w/o the fan shroud and the mechical fan in the way making routine maintenance and inspection easier. Secondly in the winter months the truck warms up quicker and they rarely run unless the defroster is used. Some people have taken electric fan units for other GM vehicles and adapted them to their trucks and this seems to be the most cost effective way to go if you can find and adapt these units. I've never compared the fuel usage before and after the fan installation since that isn't really the reason I installed them in the first place. I purchased mine at Summit Racing. Welcome to the forum!

[C & A s Dad]

Aaron, I researched this a long time but decided not to do it because I tow a large camper in some really hot weather. Not to say e fans will not cool a truck when towing but the slight MPG increase was not worth it to me. I also considered the fact that no OE uses e fans on any of their 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. You also have to consider your alternator output. If you already have a 130 amp or greater alternator you are likely ok. If not, you would need to upgrade. An alt produces only apout 40% of it's max at idle meaning a 100 amp alternator would be producing 40 amps at idle. Not enough to run two fans, you blower motor, lights, radio, wipers etc.

 

Just do your homework and let some of the guys on here that have done this conversion chime in.

[bossier62guy]

Aaron, I researched this a long time but decided not to do it because I tow a large camper in some really hot weather. Not to say e fans will not cool a truck when towing but the slight MPG increase was not worth it to me. I also considered the fact that no OE uses e fans on any of their 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. You also have to consider your alternator output. If you already have a 130 amp or greater alternator you are likely ok. If not, you would need to upgrade. An alt produces only apout 40% of it's max at idle meaning a 100 amp alternator would be producing 40 amps at idle. Not enough to run two fans, you blower motor, lights, radio, wipers etc.

 

Just do your homework and let some of the guys on here that have done this conversion chime in.

 

The alternator issue is not quite true....I've been running electric fans along w/ two audio amplifiers for well over a year now w/ a stock 105 amp alternator and the only thing that's changed is that the gauge will drop down slightly if you're in gear and sitting still at a stop sign or red light. The lights on the truck do not dim at night. I even checked w/ the local auto electric shop (that by the way does all of the local Chevrolet dealers electrical work) and talked to them about this and they said it wasn't anything to worry about. On the other hand if you're wanting to add electric fans just to gain mpg personally I don't think it's worth the money spent.

[jrrod2004]

Have not done it but my altenator is stock at 145 amps

[L29er]

Hey there i have an electric fan setup in my tow rig, its a perma-cool setup i got from summit, it pulls 5,900cfm of air, my truck has a 454, 140 amp alternator and i regularly tow in excess of 10,000lbs of trailer! yesterday i pulled a tandem axle trailer with a john deere 5205 tractor that has a loader, pluss i also had an old gravel crusher cone on the trailer that i`m going to use for a fire pit. anyways just wanted to say that my engine temp went as high as 102 C or 216 F, this was while pulling through town stoplight to stoplight. My transmission temperaure also reached 220 F. The exterior temp was 33 C or 91 F, I would consider it time to take a break if the truck gets to 121 C or 250 F. THIS electric fan setup was said to "not be for heavy towing" but as this is a hot as it gets around here i appear to be safe.

 

Now when i did the conversion i noticed an obvious power increase and noticed when you let of the gas the truck would "coast" easier, also there was an immediate 1.2 mpg increase in fuel economy. IT IS an pretty expensive way to get 1 mpg honestly, i`m pretty sure the unit i got was around 400-450? and it was extremly easy to install, required removing old fan shround and clutch/fan assy, then dropped into the old mounting holes of the fan shround, five bolts and two wires to hook up, then just setting the module to the "on" temp you desire, VERY EASY.

 

I would recommend both perma-cool and flexalite, the only reason i had went with perma`s setup is becasue it flowed 440cfm more air...If you go to summitracing.com they have a very easy page that you can put in your vehicle and then choose which part of the truck you want to get, and it tells you if it fits your application!

[Griffin86]

hmm considering one for the '04 Duramax... 1 mpg would pay for itself

 

1+ mpg

 

35 gallon tank

 

35 more miles to a tank

 

23ish hwy mpg now.

 

$6.80 a gallon

 

A savings of $10.34 a tank

 

So it would probably take a maximum of 50 tanks to pay off.

 

Yeah in the end it would take a long time to pay off... 42,000 miles assuming that the price of diesel remains the same.

[Redhell]

This is what I was thinking about going with... Any opinions?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-TRUCK...sspagenameZWDVW

 

I do plan on doing a MUCH better wiring job. Thanks for the info guys.

[L29er]

they will work, just so you know they look like they mount using ties that go through your radiator core, just have to be carefull not to damage your rad and make sure they stay tight cause if they come loos they will eventually start moving and wear through tour radiator. > Keep er cool!

[C & A s Dad]

Aaron, I researched this a long time but decided not to do it because I tow a large camper in some really hot weather. Not to say e fans will not cool a truck when towing but the slight MPG increase was not worth it to me. I also considered the fact that no OE uses e fans on any of their 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. You also have to consider your alternator output. If you already have a 130 amp or greater alternator you are likely ok. If not, you would need to upgrade. An alt produces only apout 40% of it's max at idle meaning a 100 amp alternator would be producing 40 amps at idle. Not enough to run two fans, you blower motor, lights, radio, wipers etc.

 

Just do your homework and let some of the guys on here that have done this conversion chime in.

 

The alternator issue is not quite true....I've been running electric fans along w/ two audio amplifiers for well over a year now w/ a stock 105 amp alternator and the only thing that's changed is that the gauge will drop down slightly if you're in gear and sitting still at a stop sign or red light. The lights on the truck do not dim at night. I even checked w/ the local auto electric shop (that by the way does all of the local Chevrolet dealers electrical work) and talked to them about this and they said it wasn't anything to worry about. On the other hand if you're wanting to add electric fans just to gain mpg personally I don't think it's worth the money spent.

 

 

I guess my concern would be if you were caught in traffic for an extended period in some serious heat. I guess if you did have a 105 amp alt and you were concerned you could simply make sure all accessories were off and keep the engine at a high idle if you were caught in this situation for any length of time. The information I used came from our supplier of rotating electrical products. They felt you would likely get into a discharge situation without a higher amp alternator.

 

C Dog, 216 degrees for your engine and 220 for the trans seems on the upper end to me. I am likely not towing the weight you are but my engine temps stay around 194 to 197 and my trans temps stay in the mid 160 range. This would be on a 95+ degree day towing a 6500 lb camper.

 

I am certainly not against e fans I just could not get comfortable with them for my towing needs.

[smattei14]

Aaron, I researched this a long time but decided not to do it because I tow a large camper in some really hot weather. Not to say e fans will not cool a truck when towing but the slight MPG increase was not worth it to me. I also considered the fact that no OE uses e fans on any of their 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. You also have to consider your alternator output. If you already have a 130 amp or greater alternator you are likely ok. If not, you would need to upgrade. An alt produces only apout 40% of it's max at idle meaning a 100 amp alternator would be producing 40 amps at idle. Not enough to run two fans, you blower motor, lights, radio, wipers etc.

 

Just do your homework and let some of the guys on here that have done this conversion chime in.

 

The alternator issue is not quite true....I've been running electric fans along w/ two audio amplifiers for well over a year now w/ a stock 105 amp alternator and the only thing that's changed is that the gauge will drop down slightly if you're in gear and sitting still at a stop sign or red light. The lights on the truck do not dim at night. I even checked w/ the local auto electric shop (that by the way does all of the local Chevrolet dealers electrical work) and talked to them about this and they said it wasn't anything to worry about. On the other hand if you're wanting to add electric fans just to gain mpg personally I don't think it's worth the money spent.

 

 

I guess my concern would be if you were caught in traffic for an extended period in some serious heat. I guess if you did have a 105 amp alt and you were concerned you could simply make sure all accessories were off and keep the engine at a high idle if you were caught in this situation for any length of time. The information I used came from our supplier of rotating electrical products. They felt you would likely get into a discharge situation without a higher amp alternator.

 

C Dog, 216 degrees for your engine and 220 for the trans seems on the upper end to me. I am likely not towing the weight you are but my engine temps stay around 194 to 197 and my trans temps stay in the mid 160 range. This would be on a 95+ degree day towing a 6500 lb camper.

 

I am certainly not against e fans I just could not get comfortable with them for my towing needs.

 

 

 

 

I am with you C & D Dad....I wish I had the "reg" fans...my Yukon Denali has the e-fans. I am looking to move more air through...I am thinking about swaping out the factory fan blades (fins) for a set of aftermarket ones.

 

here is my problem...could I just switch out the factory fins without replacing the motor...or do I have to replace the whole unit?

[C & A s Dad]

My bet is you cannot change just the blades.

 

 

 

Why are you needing more air than the OE E fans are providing? Higher trans temps or is you A/C not performing well at an idle etc?

[smattei14]

My bet is you cannot change just the blades.

 

 

 

Why are you needing more air than the OE E fans are providing? Higher trans temps or is you A/C not performing well at an idle etc?

 

 

High Trans temp...I am going to swap out my factory trans cooler for an aftermarket one...I believe the 9 1/4 by 11 stack plate