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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
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E30 Cooling Fan
Hi, this may seem like a dumb question, but my son recently had an accident that damaged the front of his 1990 318i.
It basically caused the cooling fan guard to impinge on the fan, thus stopping the fan from spinning. I have removed the guard in order to start fixing the front and have notice I can easily stop the fan with a piece of wood, while the motor is running. Is this normal becuase the fan operates on some sort of centifugal clutch, or is something broken. Thanks |
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06-25-2008, 03:40 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,147
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The belt-driven fan on the front of the engine in most cars is on a 'clutch' that is filled with oil that gets more viscous as it gets hotter. It should pretty much free-wheel when it is cold, and get fairly stiff when hot.
Don't abuse that plastic fan. The blades get brittle with age and can break off, often trashing the radiator and other parts when they break. |
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06-25-2008, 05:24 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2
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Thanks Manolito, one less thing to sort out
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06-25-2008, 05:37 PM
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The clutch operation is not heat related but everything else is spot on.
I'd replace it with an electric but that's a medium length description to DIY. You definitely need a new fan clutch and a new fan is probably in order on a car that age.
__________________
HPDE Instructor (BMW / PCA / Apex) Here: 1997 M3/4 Byzanz/Magma ~ 2006 Yamaha R6 ~ 1997 R1100RT ~ 1991 Ford F-150 5.8l ~ 2015 Kia Optima Gone: 2001 330i Silver/Grey ~ 98 Camry V6 ~ 97 Camry I4 ~ 97 Mazda 626 I4 ~ 93 Sentra SE-R ~ 88 Toyota Truck I4 |
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06-25-2008, 09:42 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,147
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I'm no expert on e30s in particular, but the e36 and e46 and other RWD cars I have worked on have temperature-activated viscous clutches on the fan.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system9.htm |
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06-26-2008, 05:18 AM
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You are correct. I did not know the viscous clutch had a thermostat.
Heres a really good look at it: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/FanClutch.html
__________________
HPDE Instructor (BMW / PCA / Apex) Here: 1997 M3/4 Byzanz/Magma ~ 2006 Yamaha R6 ~ 1997 R1100RT ~ 1991 Ford F-150 5.8l ~ 2015 Kia Optima Gone: 2001 330i Silver/Grey ~ 98 Camry V6 ~ 97 Camry I4 ~ 97 Mazda 626 I4 ~ 93 Sentra SE-R ~ 88 Toyota Truck I4 |
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06-26-2008, 07:25 AM
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1997 BMW M3 3.2L I6
