On or around Wed, 03 May 2006 08:17:44 +0100, beamendsltd
<
[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>In message <[email protected]>
> "Tony Boyle" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a TD5 Defender and the viscous fan seems to be giving up, making a
>> rumbling noise. I am contemplating replacing it and was considering an
>> electric fan. Does anyone have any opinions, advice or pros and cons of
>> using an electic fan, or would I be better sticking with a new viscous unit?
>> The electric fan seems a cheaper option than a new viscous one if that
>> counts!
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Tony
>>
>>
>
>Since the viscous unit has, pretty much, the same "energey saving"
>features as an electric fan, then there is little in it. The one
>very big disadvantage of electric fans is failure - and modern
>engines detsroy themselves very quickly with no cooling.
'course, the viscous unit can fail "free" and as such not provide good
cooling, but that's only one failure mode - if it fails "stiff" then you get
the fan running more than you want, which is less than optimally efficient
but doesn't risk blowing the engine.
My observation of viscous units is that the most common thing to happen is
that it doesn't free off when it should, although they can no doubt fail to
lock up again when they should as well.
There's also more of a roadside bodge factor available - if you find that
the viscous unit is not locking up and the engine's overheating, then to get
you running you just have to find a way of jamming it so it's solid, and
have a permanent fan. A blown electric fan motor can't be made to go
again...
--
Austin Shackles.
www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
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