Fan clutch re-hash......
- Thread starter RCP Phx
- Start date
I tried that clutch fan on my 2k hoping it would help the hot weather over heating for example when idling in the McDees long drive thru line but it didn't in my case.
Went through the entire cooling system after that including new water pump, radiator, thermostat, flush, fan shroud, Mopar TSB injector/fuel rail heat insulator, etc.
Nothing helped with the hot weather idling or heat soak.
The only thing that cured that over heating was to jury rig a 5 min. timer delay to turn on the efan.
It also cured the notorious 10 minute park and then heat soak rough idle issue.
I'd be interested to know if that fan clutch helped on your Jeep.
Went through the entire cooling system after that including new water pump, radiator, thermostat, flush, fan shroud, Mopar TSB injector/fuel rail heat insulator, etc.
Nothing helped with the hot weather idling or heat soak.
The only thing that cured that over heating was to jury rig a 5 min. timer delay to turn on the efan.
It also cured the notorious 10 minute park and then heat soak rough idle issue.
I'd be interested to know if that fan clutch helped on your Jeep.
Black1990jeep
New member
I got the grande clutch in my 1990 xj. Fit is tight, but it fits! That tight fit is all the more reason to have good motor mounts, if mount flexes too much, fan hits radiator. If your mounts are old and soft, best to renew them, specially if wheeling. Wheeling can shift the motor around a bit if mounts are squishy.
jk_surgeonfish
New member
I have used that one in the past. It blows a lot of air for sure but sucked too much power from the motor. If I recall you are running a bit of a hopped up engine so the hit to power may not be an issue. It was enough that I ditched it on mine. I am currently running a MOPAR fan clutch and it has been working just fine for me.
I ran the zj clutch on my '98 for awile mainly because it was what the "cool kids" were doing.
I soon realized it wasn't needed on my pile and the clearance between it (or lack there of) and my radiator made me think about everytime I was going nose down.
Went back to stock and all is well YMMV
I soon realized it wasn't needed on my pile and the clearance between it (or lack there of) and my radiator made me think about everytime I was going nose down.
Went back to stock and all is well YMMV
Have you ever added manual control of your E fan? Made a huge difference on my 96 — couldn’t sit at a drive thru without having heat soak issues in the summer
The manual override is easy to do, just need to wire in another relay and add a switch — could get fancy and use a timer or temp switch too
I didn't like the ZJ fan clutch. Robbed to much and gas mileage with no appreciable difference in cooling.
Black1990jeep
New member
Nice tranny cooler, but make sure the steel braided hose cannot rub on the AC nor motor radiators, nor anything else you dont want damaged. . Vibration can cause Steel braided hose to act like a hack saw that can cut body work, coolers, even dig into motor blocks.The real test will be this summer as I would love to have colder ac temps. With all my coolers it just puts out cool air and takes forever to cool the whole interior down.
Runnin'OnEmpty
New member
I replaced my stock unit with another stock (Hayden) clutch with good results.
The fluid shears in these clutches over time and makes them slip more, degrading
cooling. When a new clutch is installed, cooling improves, regardless of whether it's
a stock unit or a Grand unit. That's why the Grands appear to be an upgrade.
My take is that a "new" stock clutch would also perform well. At least that's been
my experience...
The fluid shears in these clutches over time and makes them slip more, degrading
cooling. When a new clutch is installed, cooling improves, regardless of whether it's
a stock unit or a Grand unit. That's why the Grands appear to be an upgrade.
My take is that a "new" stock clutch would also perform well. At least that's been
my experience...
In over 200,000 miles of XJ ownership, I have tried and replaced several fan clutches, including a ZJ clutch. There is a big difference between the stock and ZJ.
The Napa ZJ clutch was always slightly engaged and could be heard, even when it was cold. It did a great job of puling air through the coolers but, over a 75 mile daily commute, I lost a little over one MPG due to the constant engagement .
On winter mornings in the mountains, it would never come up to its normal operating temp, the fan was engaging slightly in below freeing temps.
This clutch may have been more aggressive than others but I have heard similar from other XJ owners over the years
IMO, it's the perfect clutch for a mostly trail machine, as long as you can provide the extra clearance needed between the clutch and radiator.
I modded the radiator mounts to push the radiator forward a half inch, it was too close for comfort.
If it wasn't such a pain to change clutches, I would put it in for summertime wheeling, removing it in the fall.
The stock fan clutches's seems vary in when and how much they engage, some howl when the engine is hot, others barely make a noise.
Many fail at low mileages, I carry a spare, in the motorhome, after having two go bad, while on vacations.
Fan clutches have caused me more more grief on trips than any other part, not just in the XJ but in my Ford and Chevy trucks. More than once I have had to drilled a hole through a fan clutch and bolt it together so the fan would spin, after a clutch died and stoped engaging.
The Napa ZJ clutch was always slightly engaged and could be heard, even when it was cold. It did a great job of puling air through the coolers but, over a 75 mile daily commute, I lost a little over one MPG due to the constant engagement .
On winter mornings in the mountains, it would never come up to its normal operating temp, the fan was engaging slightly in below freeing temps.
This clutch may have been more aggressive than others but I have heard similar from other XJ owners over the years
IMO, it's the perfect clutch for a mostly trail machine, as long as you can provide the extra clearance needed between the clutch and radiator.
I modded the radiator mounts to push the radiator forward a half inch, it was too close for comfort.
If it wasn't such a pain to change clutches, I would put it in for summertime wheeling, removing it in the fall.
The stock fan clutches's seems vary in when and how much they engage, some howl when the engine is hot, others barely make a noise.
Many fail at low mileages, I carry a spare, in the motorhome, after having two go bad, while on vacations.
Fan clutches have caused me more more grief on trips than any other part, not just in the XJ but in my Ford and Chevy trucks. More than once I have had to drilled a hole through a fan clutch and bolt it together so the fan would spin, after a clutch died and stoped engaging.
