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#1
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Pictorial on the electric fan install
I just finished up the install of the retrofit electric fan on the '81 300d in the shop.
I cant tell you how pleased I am with how it went. Check out the pictorial: http://dieselgiant.com/mercedeselectricfaninstall.htm
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1981 300D 147k 1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k 1979 300D 234k (sold) 1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold) Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair |
#2
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The engine fan really does not take up much power and is more reliable than an electric fan. After all, the clutch on that 81 lasted over 20 years of constant use.
For the turbo engines, I'd upgrade to the smaller diameter waterpump pulley and 9-blade plastic fan. This combo was introduced in the 1984 W123 and W126 updates. I've even seen a few people upgrade to the clutch and fan from one of the V8 W126 models. |
#3
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I don't think the Mercedes engineers would mount the fan directly onto the radiator...
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#4
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I'm going the same route and just received my SPAL 16" fan and pulse-width-modulated controller this evening. I decided to go with an electric fan because:
1) I've been running without a fan since I got the car in November and almost never "need" the fan. On the highway, the car stays at 82C and in stop and go traffic it almost never gets over 90C, and the highest temp I've seen was about 105C after getting stuck at a light for four cycles and only moving 1/4 of a mile in eight minutes (and this was during Atlanta's 105F temps last week). 2) When I put the fan clutch on, it seemed to work OK despite the loss of the juice, but the wobbling meant it was toast. The cheapest I could find a clutch was an off-brand for $140 plus shipping (it's $240 here at FastLane), so my cost of installing the electric fan will be on a par with replacing the clutch. 3) An 87-hp engine needs all the help it can get, and since I can set the PWM module to the temp setpoints I want, the fan will rarely be drawing any power. 4) I don't do "hack jobs" on wiring, so it'll be clean and reversible. Quote:
Assuming it was the original and functional until the end. |
#5
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My 1984 3ooD came with an electric fan installed. It's on a relay hooked to the AC.
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Cliff D. Central Illinois 1987 300SDL 200K 1984 300D Turbo 245K |
#6
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That's the auxiliary fan for the AC -- it's not the primary cooling fan and isn't triggered by temperature (on the W123 at least). The discussion here is about replacing the belt-driven primary fan with an electric one.
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#7
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Electric fan
How loud are these retrofit primary fans? The secondary fans on both my 123 and 124 cars can't be heard inside the car (with the windows closed and the a/c running) but are loud when standing in front of the car.
Based on a hasty web search, I notice that these fans draw a lot of current -- 13.9 Amps for the 15 inch models. Given the small alternator on the 617 motors, that's a lot, especially in slow traffic on a hot day, when the alternator output will be reduced. Both primary and secondary electric fans will be operating, along with the climate control system and its compressor. If it's a hot evening, add headlights. Clearly, it's a tradeoff. Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 Last edited by Jeremy5848; 09-07-2007 at 12:05 AM. Reason: Add another question |
#8
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Quote:
actually, they used a similar design on the radiators in the 163 ML's
__________________
1980 500SE/AMG Euro 1981 500SEL Euro 1982 380SEL 1983 300TD 1983 500SEC/AMG Euro 1984 500SEC 1984 300TD Euro 1986 190E 2.3-16 1986 190E 2.3 1987 300D 1997 C36 AMG 2003 C320T 4matic past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350 |
#9
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My 409d (617na) had an electric fan on it when I first purchased it. It could not keep up with the heat load climbing a steep hill on a warm day. I converted it to a direct drive fan. No problem handling the heat.
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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 |
#10
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Quote:
As to the electric fan replacement. I guess there are pro's and con's on both sides. For myself, I'm not a fan of electric fans. I live in Phoenix and want my fan turning permanently without the possiblity of an electrical gremlin getting in the way. I've just had to spend 380 bucks on my POS Kia Rio to replace a defective electric fan after only 75K miles. Maybe I'm an old codger but I'll stick with Mercedes original engineering in this respect at least. - Peter.
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2021 Chevrolet Spark Formerly... 2000 GMC Sonoma 1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021 2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels 1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles. 1984 123 200 1979 116 280S 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1971 108 280S |
#11
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Quote:
Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#12
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Quote:
- Peter.
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2021 Chevrolet Spark Formerly... 2000 GMC Sonoma 1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021 2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels 1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles. 1984 123 200 1979 116 280S 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 1971 108 280S |
#13
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Quote:
In any case, the front mounted fan is still an auxiliary fan, not a primary cooling fan. |
#14
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I think electric fans are great, I have already converted my jeep, and the 300cd is next...
But I would not use those plastic mounts, I don't trust them. I would fabricate a bracket that mounts to the body and/or the original fan shround mounts. Also as someone previously mentioned I would either upgrade the alternator or add another battery. additionally I would wire a manual override, so that I could turn on the fans at my discretion. Finally, I prefer 2 smaller fans as opposed to one large one, this gives more cooling options and also allows coverage of the oil cooler as well as the radiator.
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Cheers, Robert |
#15
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Dieselgiant,
You should write shop manuals!! I would have some concern over mounting the fan to the radiator in the manner shown, however for lack of knowing of a better way of doing it I'm not going to condemn it. This may deter some customers so you might continue to look for another way to mount it. .
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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons ) white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank) desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation) http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png |
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