[Trypt]

I was just thinking, would it possible to set an eletromag clutch (like that on a aircon comp) to a fan?
Im no engineer or mechanic but i thought it may be beneficial for quicker warm ups, slightly better fuel economy.
please feel free to shoot me down if im wrong but no head or dick shots please

[zukmeista]

It's called a tempature switch

[JrZook]

Think Peugeot had something like that a while back. Would be a pretty sweet setup!

[JrZook]

zukmeista wrote:

It's called a tempature switch

Cool! How do I use it on my mechanical engine fan?..........

[zukmeista]

I thought this was about a clutch for an electric fan, WHOOPS! Wouldn't a viscous coupling acheive what you're after?

[Trypt]

The idea would be to set it up like a thermo, on at 80 degrees off at 70 or whatever.

I thought viscous couplings where not that reliable and most people end up locking them up.

[TZAR]

They only lock them up when they fail cause thats the cheap option. Toyota ones have the abilitly to replace the fluid and make them all super again but suzuki ones are throw away.

[atari4x4]

Trypt wrote:

I thought viscous couplings where not that reliable and most people end up locking them up.

you'll find that most vitara viscous couplings are getting a bit long in the tooth & have lost the silicone oil, hence becoming ineffective.

$20 & you can fix them up like new, christover has done a write up on replacing the silicone oil.

[Gwagensteve]

Lots of 1980's benzes have an electric fan clutch. Yes, it's just like an A/C clutch.

It would be a mofo to retrofit to a suzuki, because the clutch would have to be where the water pump is. (amongst other issues)

Viscous coupling fans are reliable and refillable. That's what I'd be doing. Electric clutches aren't 100% reliable either, especially in an off-road scenario.

Bear in mind that the same time all these merc cars were running electric clutches, the Gwagen was running a normal viscous clutch.

Steve.

[Trypt]

Ive been waiting for you to post Steve

Enlighten me on the theory behind a viscous coupling.
as heat increases so does viscosity and with that increases fan speed?

[atari4x4]

let me google that for you

Quote:

"How does a thermal clutch fan work?"

A thermal clutch fan operates using silicon fluid as a viscous coupling medium. When the clutch is cool and disengaged, most of the silicon fluid is stored in the reservoir allowing your fan clutch to slip relative to your water pump shaft thereby spinning at a lower RPM than the water pump. This saves you money because the horsepower from your engine is not wasted driving a clutch fan when it's not needed. As your engine heats up, the thermal spring on the front of the clutch expands, which opens a valve allowing the silicon fluid to drive your clutch at an increased RPM. This provides more air flow through your radiator, preventing your car from overheating.

[Trypt]

[Gwagensteve]

^What atari posted.

IMHO about the only thing that can go wrong with them is they can drop their fluid, which is replaceable with toyota fluid.

Steve.

[Trypt]

If they loose fluid do they stop working or lock up?

[Gwagensteve]

They stop working.


Steve.