Car runs without fan...

steven566 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 02:06 PM

I have hardly ever needed to use the fan on my car. When I did use it, it vibrated the shroud to pieces, but that's a different story. The water temp gauge usually reads 180 and the oil temps is about the same. If I let the car idle, it goes up to about 200, even in the summer, with no fan.

I'm going to check the temperature of the water with an IR thermometer next time I run the car, and make sure the gauges are accurate.

The car has a supercharged 302.

Does this seem right for a high performance engine?

I was under the impression that you wanted to run the engine a little hotter to make it more efficient, not that there's anything efficient about the car.

I don't really know, as I have never build or designed an engine before.

Any thoughts?

Frank Messina · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 02:34 PM

Sounds like everything is working as it should. With a supercharger you don't want to be running quite as hot as normally aspirated to control detonation.
Frank

Mulv · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 04:30 PM

If you idle the car with no fan, parked for more than 10 minutes in this area in the summer at 115 degrees outside and the water does not boil then that should be impossible. In fact it is. ...

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 11:25 PM

Steve, you are pressing your luck. Eventually you will need the fans. Spend the time and money now. You won't regret it.

AZ Bob

steven566 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2007, 11:36 PM

The other thing is that the fan is on a switch. Shouldn't it be hooked up to a relay that gets a signal from a thermocouple, or something like that?

It seems like you would always want the fan to turn on if the coolant system reaches a certain temperature. I don't know what that temperature is, but why not have it for safety?

HI Cobra · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 12:10 AM

Might be a good idea but - I put mine on a toggle so if I get into traffic (slow)
or lights, I just turn it on. It usually runs about 170 unless I get into traffic
when I just turn the fan on as needed - 7 years now, no problems and it never sees 200.

Frank Messina · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 10:47 AM

Do you know what the number of your car is? Tell us a little more about your car. FI or carb, donor build, etc. The kit originally came with a toggle switch only for the fan, but it became popular among builders to add a thermostatic switch for the fan and to use the toggle as a manual override. That way the fan would come on when it was programmed for but you had a backup in case of an emergencey. There are a number of thermostatic switch types available, one clamps to the upper radiator hose, another uses a probe through the radiator fins, and still another screws into the water crossover in the intake manifold. They can be either fixed or adjustable, your choice. Not sure how long you've owned your car but you may want to call the previous owner/builder and take some notes on how it was built.
Frank

steven566 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 11:53 AM

I'll have to get the number. Gordon build the car in 1999. I cought the car in March of this year, i think. Gordon looked it over and said a bunch of things had been changed somewhere along the way. It's a fuel injected, supercharged 302 from Gordon. I think he said he went through the engine in 2003 and added the supercharger. I'll have to ask Gordon about the rest.

Steve

Frank Messina · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 02:06 PM

Steve,
Congratulations, if Gordon built your car you're way ahead of a lot of owners. Hopefully whatever changes were made aren't too dramatic. Getting back to the thermostatic fan switch though, a visual inspection will confirm if it's there or not and it's pretty simple to add one if it's not. Summit and Jeg's carry them, just pick the style that suits you best. Sounds like you bought a good car. Good luck.
Frank