I am considering removing the viscous fan and replacing it with an electric one.

 

Were the later model Zeds fitted with these from the factory, if so, where is the temperature switch located and is it possible to mod the earlier cars?

 

I don't really want to go down the route of a Kenlowe fan because of the sensor which has to be inserted into a radiator hose...

no, they were all fitted with Viscous fans becuase they are better.

I've always understood that the engine powered fan uses approx 4 bhp and cools regardless of whether cooling is needed or not?

I've always understood that the engine powered fan uses approx 4 bhp and cools regardless of whether cooling is needed or not?

 

Yes it probably uses a tiny bit of HP to do so, but Its a far better setup than an electric setup, as it adjusts its speed according to engine temp. So at low temps it spins slowly, and if the car gets hotter the faster it spins. It means that once engine reaches optimum temp it does'nt really ever go above it.

 

It will push 6000cfm on full chat if required, most electric cans will only push about 2000cfm.

 

With an electric setup the temp is consantly going up and down as the fan goes on and off continuously trying to keep the engine within a certain temp range and they struggle to cool the engine enough if there are any problems.

 

I've seen electric kits such as those supplied by Zcentre and they are woefully inadequate at keeping the engine cool.

 

They also use power when they are on. More hassle for a less inefficient fan setup, just to save a tiny amount of power. The cooling performance is far more important imo

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by Yowser

/\ /\ /\ Spot on Dave, Jimmer has recently converted a couple of cars back to the viscous fan because they were overheating with the electric fan conversions. I think you would require a twin Kenlowe setup to provide the required amount of cooling which is going to cost about £350 ish.

Interesting reading guys, I may just give it a go still, but will definitely be hanging on to my existing fan just incase!

I have the Zcentre setup and am going back to Viscous (was on the car when bought) on the weekend I was seeing temp of around 89-90 (measured with Conzult) which means my engine is basically cooking and I had to stop and let the engine cool, I wasn't even driving hard... I believe 92 deg C is where the ECU start limiting performace due to excess heat, I think it retards the timing but I'm not sure. Go back to viscous if you've got electric and if you haven't stick with Viscous! IMHO obviously

Edited August 24, 200916 yr by stricker
spelling

I had a kenlowe setup on mine when i bought it, what a load of dog shite!...swopped it for a viscous as Jimmer recommended and wow what a difference, the temp control is spot on.

Is this not just one of them topice thats 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other. I have had 1 midly tuned Z with the viscous fan, and my current Z with a high engine spec and with an aftermarket rad (power enterprize) and an electric fan (20" pacet). These came on the car and yes, im sure they were expensive. But the extra throttle response without the viscous fan is worth it alone. I think if you go helf hearted and buy a budget elecy fan then your asking for trouble. But shell out for the decent stuff and then you get the gains. In normal driving my coolant temp sits around 70 C, if im in traffic in summer, it'll go to 83 ish, then the fan kicks in and the temp just drops right back down. On the track it did see 90, maybe 93. But that was after 7 hard laps of castle combe, the last 2 with a servere boost leak.

So if your on a budget, stick with the viscous, if your going all out, and are prepared to spend the cash. Electric all the way

Just my opinion of coarse.

cheers

danny

Is this not just one of them topice thats 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other. I have had 1 midly tuned Z with the viscous fan, and my current Z with a high engine spec and with an aftermarket rad (power enterprize) and an electric fan (20" pacet). These came on the car and yes, im sure they were expensive. But the extra throttle response without the viscous fan is worth it alone. I think if you go helf hearted and buy a budget elecy fan then your asking for trouble. But shell out for the decent stuff and then you get the gains. In normal driving my coolant temp sits around 70 C, if im in traffic in summer, it'll go to 83 ish, then the fan kicks in and the temp just drops right back down. On the track it did see 90, maybe 93. But that was after 7 hard laps of castle combe, the last 2 with a servere boost leak.

So if your on a budget, stick with the viscous, if your going all out, and are prepared to spend the cash. Electric all the way

Just my opinion of coarse.

cheers

danny

 

Interesting, I'm running a Z1 howe Rad but with the Zcentre kit (installed by previous owner) and my coolant temp is definately higher than that... It's still got the AC and an oil cooler infront of the main rad which won't help (AC to go soon) but I'm seeing temps of 83 deg after a 70mph run for 20 mins or so and that's when it was quite cool, this weekend the same run saw temps in the high 80's... maybe the Zed centre kit isn't up to much...

 

Hmmm just checked and it's only a 14 inch unit... looks like I'll be getting rid of that then!

Well my aircon is removed. Wish it wasnt but id rather the Z run cool than me.lol. The guy who built my car went mad on cooling the thing. And rightly so, if you want the power reliably, then things have to stay cool. Does the oil cooling system not have any effect on this by the way? Surely if the oil temp is nice and low then the overall engine temp will be lower. And i would have thought the style of front bumper/bonnet/headlight panel would all make a difference.

cheers

danny

Oil temp doesn't seem to bad, however it's the standard front bumper and nose panel... This I might look at replacing the fan, the Howe Rad should be good so I'll just be taking it easy.. it does have some rather large turbos so I guess it might just be to hot under there for the fan to cope with... I'll be removing the AC at some point soon... it'll be going into the body shop over winter hopefully so maybe it can be done then... I'll work it out eventually!

Thanks for the advice,

Paul

Well i got my car like it is mate, but the guy who built it (markzx) doesnt come on here much anymore. But id try PM'ing him and see if he's about. Like i said he went through loads of cooling problems. Although im sure many others on here have.

Good luck anyway, let us know how you get on.

danny

Well had my 18" Kenlowe fan on my Zed for about 5 years now and no probs!!

Putting aside potential cooling issues, swapping to a viscous setup is probably the worst bang for buck upgrade there is, meaning you get the lowest power increase per cost than any other power modifications. Several hundred pounds for a trivial increase.

 

Your looking at a 1kg drivetrain weight saving, which is where any potential power and response improvements come from. Compare that to a Lightweight pulley, which is WAY more effective as its reduced weight saves around 5kg.

 

or a lightweight flywheel, which saves around 7kg.

Edited August 25, 200916 yr by Yowser

on a slightly different tack does your subfan still run when getting hot (not blooming likely this summer :) )?...if your aircon has been junked just check to see if the aircon fuse is still in place because if not it will stop your sub fan from running (love the jap thinking there!)...i discovered this by accident but maybe useful to some on here

I ran an electric fan on my silver one and never had a problem with it, the V8 runs on twin electric.

 

The only times i've had problem were when the wire that was soldered on fell out and it boiled over but apart from that a quick crimp and it was fine again.

 

Ebay are selling a thermostat premounted in a polished ally pipe in various sizes to splice into the silicon pipe for £35 which i'll be purchasing then just a 12v relay to switch the twin fans on and job done :D

 

I might actually put a twin stage fan system in, 1 fan comes on at 80ish then the second kicks in if it goes any higher to give a bit more of a smooth transition

I ran an electric fan on my silver one and never had a problem with it, the V8 runs on twin electric.

 

The only times i've had problem were when the wire that was soldered on fell out and it boiled over but apart from that a quick crimp and it was fine again.

 

Ebay are selling a thermostat premounted in a polished ally pipe in various sizes to splice into the silicon pipe for £35 which i'll be purchasing then just a 12v relay to switch the twin fans on and job done :D

 

I might actually put a twin stage fan system in, 1 fan comes on at 80ish then the second kicks in if it goes any higher to give a bit more of a smooth transition

 

The aircon fan is switched on regardless at 90 by the ecu as a backup for when the viscous cant hack it in traffic jams, you could use that as a secondary, Its used on mine as a backup for when I forget to switch on my fan manually

The aircon fan is switched on regardless at 90 by the ecu as a backup for when the viscous cant hack it in traffic jams, you could use that as a secondary, Its used on mine as a backup for when I forget to switch on my fan manually

 

The Aux fan switches on at 95c if you have the Aircon on, or at 105c if you have the aircon off.

 

Its only really an emergency backup - Basically if its on, then you have serious problems.

The Aux fan switches on at 95c if you have the Aircon on, or at 105c if you have the aircon off.

 

Its only really an emergency backup - Basically if its on, then you have serious problems.

 

I stand corrected although I'm sure mine switches on sooner than 105 and it has no aircon never mind the switch to put it on or off