Pretty much like the title says, my '74 240D overheats at stoplights but does fine while driving for the most part so I'm thinking about replacing the 39 y/o electric fan with a newer/more efficient one. Just wondering if anybody else has done this or knows of any good aftermarket fans that will work?

Thanks folks!

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

I'm a big fan of electric fans, but change your thermostat first, that's probably the real problem.

Junkyard options: grab a Taurus fan, they're cheap and easy to work with. A Ford 2.3 coolant switch will turn it on at 210°F and off again at 185°F. I believe MB and BMW have coolant switches that can be easily installed in the thermostat housing too.

If you get a generic eb*y fan, try to get one where the blades are connected to a ring at the tips-they're stronger than the fans with loose blades. I prefer the spiral blades models, but I have data to back that preference up. A new generic 16" was around $50 online.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Yeah it's hot as a mofo here, so I might try to set it up to come on around 190 or so, and maybe see if I can find one of the tropical weather thermostats as I hear they open up about 10°F cooler than the regular ones

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

There's not a fan clutch on a 115 116 (I think). So I doubt your problem is the fan. I'd look for the cause of the problem elsewhere as in a plugged radiator or poor flowing water pump or stuck thermostat, or low coolant or . . .

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yeah I plan on changing the thermostat and flushing the coolant after I get the transmission put back in my w123

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint