91 300 TE cruises at 80C on the meter, after replacing 192F stat with a 180F stat (alternative temp from Rock Auto). I live in the Savannah area where quite hot and slow traffic, so I like to stay a bit cooler.

Pix shows cruise temp at 57 F outdoors. Other pix shows temp at idle after 5 minutes, closing in on 100C.

Took rolled up bag recently obtained from drive thru where temp rise was noticed, and gently touched to fan. Made a noise like cardboard against bicycle spokes. Fan promptly stopped. Would have expected fan clutch to have enough torque to shred paper.

Radiator fins appear clear of trash.

So time for new clutch. This one is low on fluid.

BTW do not try work glove on hand to grab the fan blade. It might have enough torque left to make your nickname "Stubby".

Attached Thumbnails

   

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91 300 TE 235K
93 Cabriolet 155K sold
92 300 TE 200K boneyard

I looked for that test method in the FSM, couldn't find one. How much NM of force was applied by the paper bag to the moving fan?

Yep, its toast. The fan clutch provides most of the lower RPM cooling. Don't get a trashy brand or enjoy replacing it again, along with your radiator and auxilary equipment when it shears off. Send the clip to Michael Bay because he'll use it with the destruction it will do

Once you get it fixed, go back to the 87C tstat..its not the best choice long-term.

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

re: How much NM of force was applied by the paper bag to the moving fan?
The important factor is zero kNm, or Knuckle-meters. Did not even shred the paper bag.

What is considered a reasonable brand of clutch? Beck/Arnley? I know to avoid Uro if possible. Also learned that bone yard clutches unless new are not a good deal.

Have the previous stat and will put it back once clutch is done, radiator is proved good, some 134a added to the AC, and the list keeps growing.

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91 300 TE 235K
93 Cabriolet 155K sold
92 300 TE 200K boneyard

Does your car have a viscous cooling fan fitted? I'm surprised - mine is an electromagnetic affair ('92 W201).

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Beck/Arnley is trash...about as good as URO. They are just chinese reboxers. Behr, Laso or Genuine MB.

Also you don't avoid URO if possible...you avoid URO TOTALLY!!!!!

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Your Fan Clutch is repairable DIY

Refill of viscous fan clutch pictures

Viscous fan oil viscocity

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

M102s (when they went serpentine, 85+?) and OM601s (I've had 2 85s and my 87 200TD, not sure about the 84s) have the electromagnetic affair. M103s, OM602s, and OM603s still have viscous fans through their whole run as far as I know. Pretty sure M104 and OM606 do as well.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

the cooling fan test is pretty simple, you rev the engine, it will definitely let you know its working. It will blow an awful lot of air and will be loud doing it. (garbage truck sound)

you can refill it - but there is no scientific way to tell you how much. And the only test is to either install it on the engine or make up a test rig and spin it up. Too much trial and testing.

I have narrowed it down to 5cc at max as a good starting point and use 10,000 cst oil from an RC hobby store - aka 7000 wt.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

The Behr clutch I installed on the 300SEL was crap, it was always locked. Sent it back, went with a Sachs (work great on my E23s)...now it works as designed on the M103.

Yes it is twice the money, but I am starting to think Behr are made you know where now...

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

OK thanks!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Follow up - old clutch and fan were marked with junk yard crayon, so it had served two vehicles. The Beck clutch came in a box that said Hamburg Parts; at least it sounds German. So far so good.

At the LKQ boneyard in Garden City GA, I saw a SL600 convertible today, body straight. What possessed some one to send a V-12 to the crusher is beyond me. Certainly the highest MSRP of any car on the lot.

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91 300 TE 235K
93 Cabriolet 155K sold
92 300 TE 200K boneyard