Thread: 300tdi thermo fan

Hi all,
I know there is much debate about whether to thermo or to viscous. I turfed my viscous a few years ago, because it and the shroud got in the way when accessing the front of the engine.
Anyway, I powered a relay from the circuitry running the 2 condensor fans. My first attempt using an Ebay special chinese 14" piece of junk was a failure. Towing the camper trailer near Darwin often saw temps near the red. But now I've ditched the crappy 14" for a 16" ICE brand from Repco (also available at Autobarn but dearer). Instead of using the recommended mounting hardware which eventually chafes through the core, I welded 2 20x3mm flat bars to the top and bottom of the radiator and mounted it on these. Also ran some rubber D section spongy stuff between the fan shroud and the core as there was a 12mm gap.
So far, I have towed my camper trailer from Tassie to Byron Bay all along the coast, plus Sydney traffic stop-start. The temperature guage has not moved from normal. The fan cycles beautifully and is more than enough capacity for a 300tdi which has extra fuelling and a heavy load.
Thought this may be helpful to those going electric.
Also, the disco electric system more than copes with this plus dual battery setup, fridge, inverter etc etc...
PS, I also have a massive intercooler in front of the radiator which further restricts air flow. None of this is now a problem.

Originally Posted by ScottW

The viscous fan has a shroud around it, but when most people fit thermos, they use cheap ones with no shroud. Ford has used twin thermos for years, but their factory twin fan set-up incorporates a full shroud. We have fitted falcon thermos to the rangie, running a P76 and it works great. When you just hook them up to a battery you can tell straight away that they flow WAY more air than a pair of super cheap / autobarn fans. I believe they are from a pre AU falcon. The newer models are better still apparently.

EF/EL. Used to be they were throwaway items from the wreckers, but now I think those guys are waking up. They are seriously good reliable fans, and easy to mount. Quiet too.