How effective is the stock...

[PSID6]

Just wondering how effective the stock intercooler fan actually is. Am in the process of changing the crank pulley out for an aluminum unit and was not going to put it back on unless someone can convince me otherwise. Thanks for the input.

 

[Turbo6inKY]

It's essential to prevent the intercooler from becoming heat soaked in low speed traffic or at idle.

 

[sams86gn]

I was told to just leave mine off

 

[jasjamz]

If a car has a stock location keep it on. Every little bit helps. GM would have left it off if it made no difference and charged the same price for the car. I read some where on here if you put a smoking cigar in front of the IC scoop at idle, the fan will draw in the smoke.

 

[SS/GN]

I have a SLIC and was told by a few senior/smart members to leave it off.It does nothing and if you ever tap a curb and the intercooler moves just a bit you will have a big mess Made perfect sense to me

Kevin

 

[SCOOBY DOO]

Take it off and use it as a frisbee...cuz that's all it's good for.

 

[truckindude]

Mine was removed a while back and I have no problems at all.I was also told too they are pretty much useless.

 

[jasjamz]

Useless? So how did they test this and determine it useless? IAT results? Dyno results? Weight?

 

[mikestertwo]

If you have a SLIC leave it on. It's there for a reason. GM didn't put it on there for the "Bling" factor. It helps keep the intercooler from heat soaking in traffic plus helps it cool down quicker after a high boost run.

 

[blackgn1]

Took mine off and threw it away. That was about 8 years ago.

 

[jasjamz]

Took mine off and threw it away. That was about 8 years ago.

But you have a PTE FMIC, I can see it not working well for you...

 

[blackgn1]

This is true. Back when I removed the fan I had a stock cooler. Then a stock location Precision. Then a front mount. You know.....upgrades. I did do a customer car. Mostly stock. Removed the fan. No noticable change. I have a bad habit of removing GM factory parts.

 

[PSID6]

Well boys I think I'm gonna leave it off. I am really not worried about heat soak as I do not commute with my GN in grid lock traffic lol thanks for all those that gave there 2 cents

 

[fastblackracing]

It has a small effect, I saw from IAT with a relocated sensor a lower starting temp at the begining of a pass, the fan does help get rid rid of heat soak in the innercooler although most dont run the car hard enough to notice the difference. It was 10-15 degrees less and this was at the start of a pass, the end of the run ended up about the same with or without. This was heat soak at the track not on the street. Why are you changing pulleys?

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Useless? So how did they test this and determine it useless? IAT results? Dyno results? Weight?

Exactly. On one side of this issue, we have the engineers at Buick, who managed to "cobble" together the most powerful engine you could buy during the '80s, beating out the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and all ze Germans, and for a fraction of the cost. They chose to put that fan there for a reason, or it wouldn't be there. It's not like it was a carryover part from a different model. It's specific to the engine.

On the other side, we have "people just told me to leave it off."

 

[fastblackracing]

Exactly. On one side of this issue, we have the engineers at Buick, who managed to "cobble" together the most powerful engine you could buy during the '80s, beating out the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and all ze Germans, and for a fraction of the cost. They chose to put that fan there for a reason, or it wouldn't be there. It's not like it was a carryover part from a different model. It's specific to the engine.

On the other side, we have "people just told me to leave it off."

Yep its not night and day difference but there is a small help there. All of the small things added up for me.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

When new, the cooler was only about 58% efficient. That rating was "helped along" with the fan. After 25 yrs, 1000's of heat cycles, corrosion, vibration, that 58% is likely somewhat less.

 

[jasjamz]

Just wondering how effective the stock intercooler fan actually is. Am in the process of changing the crank pulley out for an aluminum unit and was not going to put it back on unless someone can convince me otherwise. Thanks for the input.

Does the new pulley have the bolt holes?
Did you lose the bolts?
Do you have all the intercooler brackets in place?

 

[PSID6]

My car has a CAS stretched SLIC and the pulley does have the ability to put the fan on

 

[Turbo6inKY]

When new, the cooler was only about 58% efficient. That rating was "helped along" with the fan. After 25 yrs, 1000's of heat cycles, corrosion, vibration, that 58% is likely somewhat less.

Unlikely. As long as it's clean and not leaking, the efficiency is still going to be 58%. The only things that would reduce that would be obstructions, dirt, or damage.