What do I need to know about the fan clutch in my car?
Listen out for a gentle roar from the fan clutch when you’re driving at least 50 miles per hour, as this can indicate that it’s binding or locking up. Next, locate the fan clutch bolted to the water pump in the engine compartment.
What’s the best temperature to test a fan clutch?
Make sure your new fan clutch is the same type as the original. It’s possible to upgrade from a non-thermal clutch to a more efficient thermal model, but not the other way around. Keep your engine temperature below 210 °F (99 °C) while you’re running your tests to prevent it from overheating.
What causes oil to come out of a fan clutch?
Run your finger along the edges of the bearing seal on the backside of the fan clutch. If it comes away with a heavy coating of oil, the culprit is either a crack or a faulty seal. Radial streaks are another potential clue—this happens when oil escapes from the clutch and is then blown outward in all directions by the fan.
What causes radial streaks in a fan clutch?
Radial streaks are another potential clue—this happens when oil escapes from the clutch and is then blown outward in all directions by the fan. Inside the fan clutch, there is a small reservoir filled with a viscous silicone-based oil. The oil flows to and from the main chamber as engine heat fluctuates, engaging and disengaging the clutch.
Listen out for a gentle roar from the fan clutch when you’re driving at least 50 miles per hour, as this can indicate that it’s binding or locking up. Next, locate the fan clutch bolted to the water pump in the engine compartment.
Make sure your new fan clutch is the same type as the original. It’s possible to upgrade from a non-thermal clutch to a more efficient thermal model, but not the other way around. Keep your engine temperature below 210 °F (99 °C) while you’re running your tests to prevent it from overheating.
Run your finger along the edges of the bearing seal on the backside of the fan clutch. If it comes away with a heavy coating of oil, the culprit is either a crack or a faulty seal. Radial streaks are another potential clue—this happens when oil escapes from the clutch and is then blown outward in all directions by the fan.
Radial streaks are another potential clue—this happens when oil escapes from the clutch and is then blown outward in all directions by the fan. Inside the fan clutch, there is a small reservoir filled with a viscous silicone-based oil. The oil flows to and from the main chamber as engine heat fluctuates, engaging and disengaging the clutch.