Thread: Advice - radiator fan viscous clutch - old? replace it..

just to pass on some advice from a recent experience.
I have a 93 V8 Discovery, but it applies to all 4WDs. Over the years I noticed via the temp gauge and the oil pressure gauge that it was having trouble handling really hot conditions. Everything was in good condition so I just kept an eye on it. During winter on our last trip up north WA I realised that the viscous clutch was just not driving enough air when needed. It was obvious when I shut the engine off when it was really hot and the fan just kept free-wheeling. There was no evidence of fluid loss out the shaft seal so it must have just been very gradual over the previous years. I got a OEM replacement clutch and fan from a supplier in Hobart. I replaced the fan at the same time as it was showing cracking in the blade root area. The difference was immediately noticeable... should have done it 5 years earlier. Best $200 spent lately.
So the short story is... if its older than 10 years..just change it.
Another bit of advice, the shaft nut is reverse thread. !!

thanks for the endorsement guys.
However, and just maybe, someone out there will go "doh" !! and they will replace their lazy fan clutch, and their life will be made easier, and they will head off on that big trip they have been planning for 6 months with renewed confidence in their machinery,.

On the other hand, for those who subscribe to the 'ignorance is bliss' school of thought, they need to realise that when things get hot, and the temp gauge still looks healthy, although its creeping up 'just a wee bit'.. if only they had an oil pressure gauge because then they would see their oil pressure trending southwards, and their (bearing wear) future repair bills heading to the stratosphere.

Our old faithful 3.5 litre fuel injected V8 has done 270 thousand kilometres, thanks to the help of Kevin at Rovertech in Perth, and my own diligence with oil changes, and constant monitoring of vital signs.

cheers.