Oil Cooler Fan - Push or Pull

[Targa Me]

The title pretty much says it all...
If I were to install a fan for my fender oil cooler, do I want to push the air through or do I want to pull the air through?
Does it even matter?

Let me know your thoughts.

[slow&rusty]

Always had great luck with "puller" fans

[fred cook]

Assuming this is a front fender oil cooler, there is not enough room for a "puller" fan to go on the wheel side of the oil cooler. The fan will need to mount on the front of the oil cooler (bumper side) and blow thru the oil cooler. You may find that the horns are in the way and may need to be moved slightly for all to fit. Of course, if the oil cooler is mounted on the front valence, than you might be able to fit a "pusher" fan. Good luck with your project!

[TRE Cup]

How long do you want your fan to last? Pulling hot air thru will significantly reduce the life of the fan motor. Every manufacturer , inc Porsche, pushes the air thru the coolers.
Suggest you follow common practice

[Targa Me]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

How long do you want your fan to last? Pulling hot air thru will significantly reduce the life of the fan motor. Every manufacturer , inc Porsche, pushes the air thru the coolers.
Suggest you follow common practice

Well when you explain it that way, it makes perfect sense.
Heat is an enemy of any electrical component, including electric motors.

Thank you Everyone for your input.

[Wil Ferch]

Well....we can also explain it *this* way.....the fan motor manufacturers make both, so they anticipate either orientation as "possible". The puller fan has the advantage that vehicle speed air flow immediately contacts the cooler for max effecriveness ( no aero "blockage" by the front mounted pusher)....

So.....both ways are possible. For fender mount, true enough, there is no room on the wheel side, only room on the bumper side for a pusher.

[Ken911]

Originally Posted by TRE Cup

How long do you want your fan to last? Pulling hot air thru will significantly reduce the life of the fan motor. Every manufacturer , inc Porsche, pushes the air thru the coolers.
Suggest you follow common practice

+1 been there done that different application but it lasted 10 minutes pulling hot air past the motor.

[DRACO A5OG]

Push Larry Push !!!

Make sure the fan is not twisted in any way as to bind it, it will blow the fuse.

Also If I may recommend, placing some ABS or any slightly flexible plastic material at the bottom to seal the underside. You can use the two mounting bolts. This will help Isolate the flow of area to the oil cooler instead of blowing straight down to the street.

Jim

[donporfi]

I think that it depends on the room you have to install the fan in front or behind the oil cooler.
I disaggree that the hot air will make the fan motor to fail sooner. I think these are designed to work at those temps. Many car manufacturers use electric puller fans for their vehicles, BMW, VW, GM etc.
I use almost daily a 1985 car with a puller fan that is very close to the exhaust manifold (about 1/2 inch) and in these years I did not have any problems with the fan motor.

[Wil Ferch]

My stock puller fan for a Toyota Corrolla for the radiator..... 17 years old and 253,000 miles..... still going strong. Follow up to previous post and my post # 6 above.

[tobluforu]

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

My stock puller fan for a Toyota Corrolla for the radiator..... 17 years old and 253,000 miles..... still going strong. Follow up to previous post and my post # 6 above.

My old saab spg, over 250K pulling hot air through the stock radiator, "with" a huge IC parked in front of that, still going strong as well. I guess it depends of what you are doing, space, etc. Spal makes great pull fans.

[Targa Me]

Originally Posted by draco a5og

push larry push !!!


Jim

lol !