electric fan success - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

yoterbenz · #1 06-12-2008, 11:26 PM

Well I finally got around to getting the flex-a-lite fan installed and I have to say I'm impressed overall. The engine seems to run a tad smoother and have a little more pull on the freeway. Warm ups are much quicker and the fan doesn't even kick on all that often.

My overall opinion on the whole deal is if you are a 240D owner anything you can do to extract a little extra power then it's worth it. When you have less horsepower than one cylinder on some high end V-8s every little bit helps.

jt20 · #2 06-13-2008, 12:02 AM

so, you removed your mechanical fan?
and have fully electrified cooling?

do you have pictures?

jkoebel · #3 06-13-2008, 12:09 AM

I was thinking about that, but how much horsepower can it really sap having a piece of plastic on the front of the engine block?

jt20 · #4 06-13-2008, 12:11 AM

^^ not much - I am interested in seeing the setup.

power is power .. period.

is has to come from somewhere

jkoebel · #5 06-13-2008, 12:14 AM

That's true, I guess the point in this case is that the constant power loss from the engine must be more than the slightly-higher due to conversions back and forth, but executed less often, electric fan.

Think about it. That fan is spinning 100% of the time the car's engine is on, blowing a fairly sizable stream of air. Even though it has a higher operating efficiency than the electric fan, the electric fan will likely be not running all the time - only when the temperature necessitates it -- and so there will be more available power in most cases.

jt20 · #6 06-13-2008, 12:18 AM

aslo, while you are moving at speeds.. you now have less air flow around your rad.

at least the mech fan always moves

yoterbenz · #7 06-13-2008, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt20

so, you removed your mechanical fan?
and have fully electrified cooling?

do you have pictures?

Indeed I have. It's not the cheapest way to ensure maximum cooling but I like the setup. I decided to leave the fan shroud in place so it appears factory still. You have to actually look for the fan

Well the adjustable thermostat might give it away

p.s. pics coming soon

#8 06-13-2008, 06:32 AM

Its really a downgrade. The engine fan moves much more air which will keep it cooler and has no fuse to blow and overheat the engine without warning.

michakaveli · #9 06-13-2008, 09:51 AM

Any photos of the setup?

#10 06-13-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Its really a downgrade. The engine fan moves much more air which will keep it cooler and has no fuse to blow and overheat the engine without warning.

Yup, simpler is always better.

vstech · #11 06-13-2008, 10:10 AM

... better? I agree that simpler is safer, but better is in the eye of the beholder right? I kinda doubt that highway airflow on these vehicles is a problem... barn door image comes to mind here... I try to put an electric fan in everything I have, and I can see the fan failing being a problem, but only if no attention is paid to things, the "fuse" that comes with these things is amazing! HUGE THING.
and really, lets face it, the 240D NEEDS all the help it can get!

michakaveli · #12 06-13-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... Lets Face It, The 240d Needs All The Help It Can Get!

:-)

#13 06-13-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... better? I agree that simpler is safer, but better is in the eye of the beholder right? I kinda doubt that highway airflow on these vehicles is a problem... barn door image comes to mind here... I try to put an electric fan in everything I have, and I can see the fan failing being a problem, but only if no attention is paid to things, the "fuse" that comes with these things is amazing! HUGE THING.
and really, lets face it, the 240D NEEDS all the help it can get!

IMHO, it's just one more thing to break, and one more thing the next owner will have to undo to make the car correct (it's the kind of thing that would probably make me think twice about buying a car). In the real world the power gain will be negligible, if you need more power it's easier to drive a different car.