The Importance of a Car Radiator Fan

A radiator fan is an important part of your car’s cooling system. It blows cool air across the radiator to lower the temperature of the engine and keep it operating safely and efficiently.

There are two main types of fans – mechanical and electric. Understanding which one your vehicle has will help save time and money.

Blades

The blades on a car radiator fan help move air through the radiator to cool down the engine’s hot coolant. They are also essential for keeping your vehicle’s heating system at a comfortable temperature and preventing damage to the internal components of your engine.

A good quality radiator cooling fan should have four to six blades and should be able to deliver a powerful flow of air. This depends on the CFM rating (air per minute), as well as the current draw (current in watts) of the fan.

Straight blade fans are more efficient and can move a higher amount of air than curved blades. However, they also tend to be noisier. If your engine is not highly demanding, a curved fan will do the trick.

Mechanical fans rely on a thermally operated clutch to engage and disengage the fan when the coolant temperature changes. The clutch contains a gel that expands as the engine heats up to lock the hub, allowing the fan to spin and pull air through the radiator.

Modern cars use electric fans that operate electronically, with a control module and sensors to determine when the fan should turn on. These are quieter and more effective than the mechanical types, as they don’t need an engine to run.

A good radiator fan should have a shroud that is designed to reduce the stray sparks that occur when the fan is activated. The shroud also allows the fan to direct air more efficiently, which can be beneficial in keeping your engine warm.

Motor

The radiator fan motor is an important part of the cooling system in your car. It helps to disperse heat from the engine, which keeps your vehicle running smoothly and safely.

The motor also helps to cool the coolant, which is what powers your radiator. It is important to ensure that the motor and the other components of your cooling system are working properly for optimum performance.

There are many different types of radiator fans, and each one works differently. However, they all work by transporting heat away and dispersing it into the surrounding air.

Modern vehicles have electric cooling fans that can be used to replace manual fans. These are more efficient and sensitive to temperature as they turn on only when cooling is needed.

They are typically mounted at the front of the radiator with a shroud to direct airflow towards the radiator. They are also a bit more expensive than other types of radiator fans, but are often the best option for your vehicle’s cooling needs.

Some older cars still use mechanical car radiator fan cooling fans, which operate by pulling or pushing air through the radiator. These fans are still found in some modern cars, and they are often paired with a fan clutch that locks the fan blades to prevent them from spinning when the engine is hot.

A cooling fan can also be powered by a computer sensor that detects when to turn on and off for cooling purposes. This system is often integrated with the engine control unit or a separate coolant temperature sensor. If the sensor is faulty, it will not interact with your radiator correctly.

It is important to check your vehicle’s repair manual to find out if the fan is controlled by the engine control unit or a separate cooling system temperature sensor. If it is, you can inspect the sensor resistance with a multimeter to ensure that it is working correctly.

If the radiator fan does not turn on when you start your car or the coolant level in your radiator is lower than normal, it could be a problem with the fan motor itself. This is a common cause of overheating, so it is a good idea to replace your fan motor before it causes more serious damage.

Clutch

The radiator fan is a crucial part of a car’s cooling system, dissipating heat from the engine and protecting your vehicle from overheating. Without the fan, your engine would be unable to run properly and you would likely encounter problems driving around town.

The clutch of the fan is an important part of the fan’s operation, controlling the speed at which it spins. It also plays an important role in reducing noise and power consumption.

There are three main types of fan clutches. These are non-thermal, thermal, and electric.

Non-thermal fan clutches use centrifugal force to push a fluid against valves. The centrifugal force increases as the rpm rises. When the rpm exceeds a certain level, the valves close, keeping the fluid in the reservoir and disengaging the fan.

Thermal fan clutches control the speed of the fan by reacting to the temperature of the air rushing over the bi-metal thermal spring in the face of the fan clutch. At higher engine temperatures, a thermally activated clutch will engage the fan, allowing it to rotate faster and pull more air through the radiator to provide the best possible cooling.

The two main types of thermally controlled fan clutches are spring-operated and electrical solenoid-operated. The spring-operated types are powered by a bi-metal sensor on the front of the fan clutch that senses engine temperature, while electronic clutches can be switched on and off by the engine control unit (ECU) depending on current engine conditions.

Some thermally-controlled fan clutches are designed to disengage when the engine is at highway speeds. This is a great feature that can save you money on fuel and increase your engine’s power and fuel efficiency.

If you notice that your vehicle’s radiator fan isn’t working correctly, don’t hesitate to nip into Natrad for an expert diagnosis. The specialists will be able to advise you on the right clutch for your vehicle and can recommend fan blades for your specific model and year.

Relay

The radiator fan is a key component of your car’s cooling system. It removes heat from your engine and also helps to cool down the air conditioning condenser. The fan is controlled by a relay and a temperature switch or with commands from your engine computer, coolant sensor, or control module.

Most cars today are equipped with a radiator fan, and some have an electric fan for the A/C condenser as well. The relay is an electromagnetic switch that controls the power supply to these energy-intensive devices. It ensures that they only run when necessary, saving on electricity and helping to keep your engine and A/C condenser at a safe temperature.

Relays are an important part of a vehicle’s electrical system and can be found in many areas of the underhood. The radiator fan relay, for example, operates the electric fans that draw a lot of current to run.

There are several types of relays, all of which use an armature to finish an electrical circuit by winding it up. The most common type is the normally open relay, which uses an open armature to complete the circuit by energizing the coil and pulling the secondary contacts together.

Another type of relay is the dual relay, which uses both an open and closed armature to conduct electric current. The closed car radiator fan armature closes once the relay coil is energized, and the open armature opens again when electricity flows through the circuit.

You can test a relay by using a simple relay kit that comes with two tests on the side, one for each contact. You can then plug the tester into the relay socket and check which contact has power.

If you notice that the fan turns on when a specific contact is tested, but it doesn’t turn on when the other test is done, you have a problem with your relay. The next step is to replace it.

You can get a replacement for your radiator fan relay from most auto parts stores. Just be sure to sand off any corrosion on the relay’s mounting surface before you install it. This will help to prevent corrosion in the future and help your new relay operate as it should.