Adding fan to front oil cooler

Hi all,

Wanted to get your opinion. My '85 is the first year with the radiator type front oil cooler. This is the year before Porsche added the fan.

Now that I am in a hotter climate (Northern CA, Sacramento area), apparently 110 F is the normal summer here, I want to get the fan.

Should I get a factory one? I talked to Darren he can get the "kit" for $279.00 (ouch).

Should I look at a thermostatically controlleed (and switched) SPAL fan?
Is there something else (better)?

TIA


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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera

the OEM fan fits well but they're costly. several companies advertizing in street rodder magazine sell fans from 5" up. strap it on and go. run it off a 4 terminal relay, with a toggle switch under the dash to ground the relay. flip it on when it's hot out. maybe stack two. good god!

There are really two kinds of heat problems to solve. If the car is running hot on on the freeway or the track, a fan is going to be of negligible value. For that, you need some kind of scoop (either the Pelican, side-light-marker kind, or a fabricated lower scoop), and a shroud above and around the cooler to keep air moving where you want it to move.

For the stuck-in-traffic variety of overheating, the ducts won't do you any good. You need a fan. I use a Spal fan connected to a switch on the dash, next to the sunroof switch. You can also get a heat-triggered switch, but you probably want to also be able to override it. I think there's a Pelican technical article on wiring the switches.

The only significant diffrences between fans is how much learance they need, and whether they're pushers or pullers. I have a pusher, mounted on the headlight side of the cooler, away from the wheel.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 03-23-2001).]

Nick,

My feeling is that the factory 'fan kit' is a bit overpriced and that the thermal switch in the kit is wrong for protecting the engine! The fact that there is a shroud that fits is good, but Bruce Anderson has said that the switch doesn't come on until about 257 degrees F, a figure far too high ... in my opinion! I would prefer a 200-210 degree range, and a dashboard swtich would be an easy way to override the oversight, but there are switches for 924/944 fans that are available in four different settings from 71 degrees C thru 92 degrees C ... in the Automotion catalog. Any of those switches would be preferable to the factory 125 degree C switch!

It would be easy to do your own version of a 'kit' for under $125 or so, but that is up to you.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Nick:

In addition to the good advice you received about the fan, if you haven't yet done so, switch to Mobile One.

Did it years ago on both my turbo and Harley and they both run noticeably cooler.

Hope it helps.

Ed
'88 930S

I am familiar with the wiring, need to find the fan and/or shroud.

Where does one find a SPAL fan?
To keep similiar to stock, I will want a "pusher" and now... what size?

BTW: the engine temp stays around 180 or 200 degrees when I go about 85MPH on the freeway, even with the AC on, and 100 degrees outside.

It does get up there (2nd mark or above) when standing in traffic with the AC off and 100 degrees outside. :-(

Thanks
Nick

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Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera

You might want to check out these threads:
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http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/003233.html
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http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/005225.html
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http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/005800.html
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Thanks to all who replied.

Re-reading my previous posts, I sounded like a pompous *ss. Sorry.

My situation seems unique to the '85 years.

I already have the radiator OEM. Just no fan :-(

What size SPAL fan would fit?
Where does one get SPAL fans?

TIA (again)
Nick H.

I also have an 85 carrera, and have the same thoughts about installin a fan.
Question- can the fan be installed without removing the cooler? Has anyone succesfully attached one with the cooler still in place, the wiring will be the easy part.
Second question, there is a baffle on the wheel side of the cooler with a series of vents pointing down- I am sure it is there to protect the cooler, but it looks like it really restricts air flow- is there any improvment if I take it off- probably require cutting it off in my case?
Thanks for you help
Gary

Hey Gary,

I was thinking of installing a fan without removing the cooler too.

I went to SPAL.com not much information there regarding ordering abilities and sizes. Besides that, I don't speak Italian.
Something about sending an email for more information.

I have heard where the "Stone guard" was in place someone had hit a stone and broke the cooler, then all the oil went out and prompted a rebuild.
Hence, I am not too inclined to remove or otherwise alter the "stone guard".

email me if you information.

Nick

Yeah, that stone shield is pretty important ... a rock in the wrong place and it probably would not be quite as fast as losing a fan belt and not noticing, but within a short while you could be out of oil and stranded, even if the goose doesn't get entirely cooked!

And then there's the danger of oil on your right front, and maybe even rear tire ... could be fatal in the wrong situation! Doesn't sound like a good risk or gamble to me! Not even for a few degrees cooler oil.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

I got my Spal fan from B.A.T. I can't remember their web address but you can do a web search for Spal and get some info.I recommend a 1" bigger fan than your radiator.You have a choice of a puller or a pusher,difference is which side of the cooler you want your fan,I went with the pusher.
I have a 7" fan on a 19 row cooler,manually controlled and am extremely happy with it.I do not have a stone guard.I talked with the people at B.A.T. they are the Mocal distributors for the US.They said they have never had to replace a cooler due to damage from road debris.I have had mine for 6 months and maybe covered 5 or 6 thousand miles with NO damage or even a blemish, the cooler still looks brand new !

From: "Ceasar Olaes"
To: "'Michael T. Zois'"
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:24 AM
Subject: RE: SPAL FANS
661-295-9340
California distributor, uses a 7 inch fan...

Hope that helps.

Thanks Mike!

I called the above phone # Saturday afternoon, the number just rings and rings. I will call again this Monday.

Just in case, anyone else know of a SPAL dealer?

Nick

Here you go. Decent prices, and you can order it online.

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/fan.htm

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

one of many ads in street rodder magazine: Fanman/ 5-18"/ largest inventory/ maximum CFM range. www.the-fan-man.com 1.800.814.4238. authorized SPAL dealer in cal.

[This message has been edited by john walker's workshop (edited 03-26-2001).]

OK,

The $42.99 question is now which size SPAL?

the-fan-man.com (jack Jr.) said the 6.5" spal fan measures 7.03" at smallest part and 7.35" at largest part. He goes on to say the 7.5" fan measure 7.75" at smallest part and 7.92" at largest area.

Does anyone know which fan, 6.5" or 7.5" fan will fit in the radiator style oil cooler?

TIA.

Nick

Do you have the shroud for it, or are you planning on using zip ties? If the latter, I'd say go for the larger of the two.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

So let me get this straight, the fan goes in front of the cooler and pushes air backwards thru the cooler then out the stone guard, correct? Is this thing waterproof, or will dirt and sand destroy it? and will it fit in front of a 84 carrera's cooler? thanks

Johnd,

That is how the factory '86 and later Carrera use the fan/oil cooler.

I am not sure how effective a fan will be for the '84s. I understand the '84s use a brass tube type (no fins) cooler. I believe the '84s cooler is more than the trombone (pre '83) but less than the radiator type. The radiator type needs air to pass through them for more efficient cooling. I am not sure if moving more air on the brass tube type will help or not. I suppose it will not hurt.

I guess I will see how much I can fit inside my cooler.

JACK - I am hoping the SPAL fan has some type of shroud. My oil cooler already has the insulation all around it to seal itself within the fender-well. This forces the front air to go through the cooler as opposed to around. I suppose, the air can go under the cooler.

I suppose the short answer is, I will be using zip ties (not preferred). I will probably try something more permanent (metal straps of sorts) to mount the fan on the cooler.

Thanks to all who replied.

Nick