P38 viscous fan removal

So after this happening tho other day and taking the radiator out with it I want to convert the fan to an electric one , it doesn't have the Aircon fans anymore as the entire system has been removed , wiring/plugs are still there for the fans , I know they used to run as a secondary engine fan but only ever came on of I was towing something, does anyone know what temp they come in at or is it worth making something else up entirely to a set temp ? Any advice/recommendations welcome

Why do you want to convert to electric fan? The standard one pulls a huge amount of air that typically an electric one won't do.
Is it diesel?

Yes it's diesel and it's the second fan that has failed the first one locked up solid and this one has been on just over a year and fell apart , but the truck does a fair bit of wading etc and it's not the first time I have seen a viscous fan let go and take out a rad or hoses etc , so want to eleminate the possibility of it happening again

On the diesels theres a,, think its black ,sensor on the head nearest the bulk head ( might be year dependent ),,It controls the air con fans electric fans in an over heat situation 105degs c i believe,,if uv got the original wiring and you could get a lower temp sensor and any big fan from a scrapyard and a bit of tinkering it would be possible to convert

@Datatek is your man for this one.

I know there is 3 sensors down the head but unsure exactly on which one does what

Bern768 said:

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So after this happening tho other day and taking the radiator out with it I want to convert the fan to an electric one , it doesn't have the Aircon fans anymore as the entire system has been removed , wiring/plugs are still there for the fans , I know they used to run as a secondary engine fan but only ever came on of I was towing something, does anyone know what temp they come in at or is it worth making something else up entirely to a set temp ? Any advice/recommendations welcome

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I can give you a mod which uses the existing fan relays.to run the aircon fans for cooling which can be adapted to run an additional fan.

Bern768 said:

I know there is 3 sensors down the head but unsure exactly on which one does what

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Front gauge, middle ECU, back one is for overheats only and is set so high that it rarely operates and if it does it's too late.

Datatek said:

Front gauge, middle ECU, back one is for overheats only and is set so high that it rarely operates and if it does it's too late.

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That"s what i said ,in a round about way ,,,,if a lower temp sensor could be found that fits to replace ,said black one ,say 98%c it would kick in sooner ......but hes got no aircon fans fitted..

@Datatek if I could have the mod that you have done that would be great , I could then use the existing wiring that's there to run the fan and then like @dubbleRR has said put a lower temp switch in I would then have the best of both worlds

Bern768 said:

@Datatek if I could have the mod that you have done that would be great , I could then use the existing wiring that's there to run the fan and then like @dubbleRR has said put a lower temp switch in I would then have the best of both worlds

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PM me with an email address for the info. With the mod done you do not need to change the emergency temperature switch.

Datatek said:

PM me with an email address for the info. With the mod done you do not need to change the emergency temperature switch.

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Should be in your inbox thank you

dubbleRR said:

On the diesels theres a,, think its black ,sensor on the head nearest the bulk head ( might be year dependent ),,It controls the air con fans electric fans in an over heat situation 105degs c i believe,,if uv got the original wiring and you could get a lower temp sensor and any big fan from a scrapyard and a bit of tinkering it would be possible to convert

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Later ones only. Post '97 or maybe even post '99. It is too high as well, you need it cutting in before that but Datatek has a good mod.

Electric fans can fail while wading too.

Grrrrrr said:

Later ones only. Post '97 or maybe even post '99. It is too high as well, you need it cutting in before that but Datatek has a good mod.

Electric fans can fail while wading too.

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Not if you switch them off

I had exactly the same issues. I used @Datatek ’s mod, (Thanks again for that), and added another cruise control switch to the dash which i wired in line with the fan so i can turn it off when wading. I don’t miss the viscous fan at all.

I also note that you are based in the nearest town to me, only a few miles away and it looks as if you are similarly afflicted by choosing to green lane in a p38! We could meet up and compare mods, and Nos of replacement rads due to viscous fan strikes while wading!

Salisbury Nick said:

I also note that you are based in the nearest town to me, only a few miles away and it looks as if you are similarly afflicted by choosing to green lane in a p38! We could meet up and compare mods, and Nos of replacement rads due to viscous fan strikes while wading!

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Why not turn it into a meet with some gentle laning for those with shinier P38s?! Quite a few are only a short way down the M4.

Grrrrrr said:

Why not turn it into a meet with some gentle laning for those with shinier P38s?! Quite a few are only a short way down the M4.

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Trying to make me jealous?

Grrrrrr said:

Why not turn it into a meet with some gentle laning for those with shinier P38s?! Quite a few are only a short way down the M4.

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I’d be up for that.

@Salisbury Nick I'm pretty certain I have seen you about on the odd occasion mines, currently in a lot of pieces as the mot is due shortly and have had to do a fair amount of work to it , but won't be long before it's out and about again