School_Farmer
New member
Regarding electric fans saving fuel, there are two reasons cars often have electric radiator fans nowadays. First and foremost is that with transversely mounted engines, the pulleys simply aren't in the right position to run a fan over the radiator. Secondly, most cars don't really need radiator fans most of the time since the forward motion of the car supplies most all of the cooling air above 20 or 30 mph. Running the engine while parked and stop and go traffic, especially with the AC on, are pretty much the only times cars need a fan. Therefore, the ability to shut the fan off completely is a real fuel saver. That's also why cars and trucks that do have engine-powered fans often use a thermostatically-controlled fan clutch. Otherwise, at high RPMs and high road speeds, the fan takes up lots of needless horsepower (as well as making lots of noise.)
Tractors, on the other hand, just don't move fast enough to get any ram air cooling effect into the radiator, so fans need to run just about all the time after warm up is over. Therefore, I doubt an electric fan would save any HP or fuel as the fan would nearly always be on, comprising a fairly hefty load on the alternator (the latter is often a fairly small, low capacity device on most smaller tractors too, so an electric fan added might be a problem.)
'Just my nosy 2 cents.
Tractors, on the other hand, just don't move fast enough to get any ram air cooling effect into the radiator, so fans need to run just about all the time after warm up is over. Therefore, I doubt an electric fan would save any HP or fuel as the fan would nearly always be on, comprising a fairly hefty load on the alternator (the latter is often a fairly small, low capacity device on most smaller tractors too, so an electric fan added might be a problem.)
'Just my nosy 2 cents.
