Fan clutch

Piazzish · Post by **Piazzish** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:55 am

My fan is always on. It's been like that since I got the car.
I got this in the mail some days ago. It was bought for my G200z car. Looks like it's for the turbo 4z engine. They are not similar..
The one to the left is for the G200z non turbo engine.

Where can I get one of these ?

IZU069 · Post by **IZU069** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:33 am

I suggest don't. I am amazed at their price (>$100 new) - though that's not my reason....

An electric is far superior. Whilst you gain performance from the above since the fan does not retard acceleration as much as a fixed fan, it still suffers from the inversion problem - the fan is spinning fastest when needed least, and slowest when needed the most - ie, idling in slow traffic.
And imagine if it "wasting power" is cooling sufficiently when idling, how much more wasted power at high RPM when not needed.
Plus there can be spacing and mounting issues when added to fixed-fan systems.

I have used electric for decades and - except for about 1 recent year of automation - it has been manually switched (which is NOT recommended except in addition to automatic sensing). I rarely have to turn it on - only after a while in peak traffic, and when hill-climbing goat tracks or getting bogged.
(It's a pusher (in front of the radiator) and it has migrated several vehicles (Bellett, Florian, Wasp) using the same mounting brackets (I don't like through-the-radiator mounts - not that I have tried them).

Incidentally, my first PICAXE 08 project is a fan controller that is added to the vehicle's temp gauge. I never liked paying over $50 for a controller, especially the usual ugly & bulky mechanical types. (The PICAXE is $4 and programmable. Add a few components and a relay...)

Post by **Piazza_man** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 3:06 pm

I've been thinking seriously about putting a Davies Craig fan in mine. There's a supplier in Melbourne selling those fans for Piazzas on eBay. @ $182 I can't bring myself to buy one just yet. They are apparently discontinued and surplus stock.

IZU069 · Post by **IZU069** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:29 pm

I wonder what makes them "Piazza". If they have specialised brackets AND the (mechanical adjustable) switch it's okay, but usually they are universal kits with merely the fan diameter being specified (8", 10", 12" etc) though there is a difference between air-con fans (assists), and engine fans, and they can vary in power and blades (though often not).

One day I'll raid Pick-A-Part and get some electric fans. I think they are ~$30-$45. Viscous clutches alone were $45 on 2008.

Update 24Jul12: from original Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:21pm (Melb Zulu)
A ew 4ZD1 viscous clutch advertised on eGay for $165!! (Item 110831952587)
I guess some people will buy them...