Stock Intercooler Fans... Are They Important?

[motorhead]

why?

Because mine just blew up!

The bloody thing grooved my I/C... both the fins and the core rows.

If I had the time and the money I'd slap the FMIC I have in the basement on... but I don't.

So, in the interm I am hoping to get one for a decent price. If not, it is staying off until I can find a thin electric fan to put in its place.

TIA,

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by Mr. T
why?

The I/C is a storage devise. It absorbs abot of heat as boost builds. The fan draws air thru it to cool it back down. Without a fan on a hot day once warm it stays warm there isn't enough air flow to cool it back down.

That crank driven fan, is real effective, once moving......

 

[Russ Merritt]

I haven't done any scientific tests on it, but I take it off! The fan slows the crank, there are no fans on front mounts and mine works fine at zero to slow speeds. Every car I've taken it off goes like hell without it. I think they are a waste, just my opinion.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I was toying with the idea of replacing the stock fan with an electric one and posted about it a while back. Since the stock fan depends on engine speed and idle is about 750 rpm give or take wouldn't it be better to have an electric fan spinning at say 2000 rpms at idle. As long as the cfm ratings are the same I would think it would be a benefit and have it shut off once moving. I have seen some thin fans in Jeg/Summit that might work. Anyone know what the stock fan's cfm rating would be? Just a thought.

 

[Mr URL]

It's there to pull air through the IC at low speeds. It's been proven that putting in a better fan has no improvement in E.T. If you do put an electric fan behind it wouldn't you want it to shut off once you get moving since it could then become a restriction in air flow just like the radiator fan? Especially since it would be up against it instead of more open air like the stocker.

 

[Jimn8or]

Best replacement I've found is below, p/n 19010. Great CFM compared to other similar sized fans and if the motor is placed correctly, you may not need to move the i/c back at all either.
http://www.perma-cool.com/Catalog/Cat_page16.html
HTH
Jim

 

[BuickBeast]

I have a stock ic. I have my fan off it gets in the way and doesn't do jack.If you are driving you are forcing air through the scoop and through the ic. If you are at idle you aren't building any boost thus no need for forced air through the ic. What kind of front mount do you have? and what has to be done to it maybe we could make a deal.

 

[Mr URL]

It does if you decide to floor it from that idle or are spooling at the line before launch. I dunno for sure cause I haven't done any testing but I can't see why GM would waste money on that if it didn't help.

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by Russ Merritt
I haven't done any scientific tests on it, but I take it off! The fan slows the crank, there are no fans on front mounts and mine works fine at zero to slow speeds. Every car I've taken it off goes like hell without it. I think they are a waste, just my opinion.

Take and install yout MAT sensor in the upper plenum.
Then run with and without the fan.
You're results will match what I said.

It'll go like hell, till the I/C heat soaks, and unless given lots of time to recover, a 2nd run will be slower.

A front mount has a huge amount of heat soaking ability, and are exposed to lots of cool air, so they cool off well without a fan.

 

[motorhead]

You guys are great.

I am purchasing/getting a stock replacement fan. It makes sense to have it there considering most of my driving is city.

The electric unit would be best, on something like an Auto-X course, or a low speed lapping day. The kinda things mine is being built for.

 

[lyonsd]

What is the consensus on those intercooler fan shrouds? I've seen them in at least one vendor's catalog.

 

[Mr URL]

Originally posted by lyonsd
What is the consensus on those intercooler fan shrouds? I've seen them in at least one vendor's catalog.

I've heard no gain from them. I wonder if that wouldn't actually be an air flow restriction once the car is moving??

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by lyonsd
What is the consensus on those intercooler fan shrouds? I've seen them in at least one vendor's catalog.

I run the fan,
but no shroud.

If you look at it the cross sectional area just ain't big enough to really allow any air flow. I haven't done any back to back temp tests with and without thou.

My next move might be just going to a serious Water Injection and deleting all the I/C stuff.