96 Suburban Electric Cooling Fan

[Da Burb]

I am looking to install an electric cooling fan and remove the OEM fan and fan clutch. I am not looking to spend $300 or $400 or more for a custom application. I have seen some universal fans for less than hundred dollars that move 2100 CFM and draw 9 amps. I can wire with the harness for about $40. Anyone have any experience with this? Will 9 amps overwork the alternator in the summer? Is 2100 CFM enough air movement? I live in Texas and in the summer time Dallas is about 8 miles from the sun. I was thinking of trying it and if it doesn't work, I am only out about $120ish and I can put the OEM stuff back in. I have upgraded the radiator to the dual core over the OEM single core. Thanks for any advice.

[mishalah]

I am looking to do the same thing. I see there is an "auxilliary" fan that GM made to go in front of the condensor, but I would like to get rid of the huge mechanical fan completely. On one of my parts searches out at a local wrecking yard I saw a line-up of oem cooling fan assemblies that were pulled out of numerous vehicles. I am curious if any of those assemblies could be used as long as it fit behind the radiator??? The dual fan units from the Dodge/Chrysler vans looked like they'd work and would have single/double capability with their thermostats. I think they cost about $50-100 tops.

[j cAT]

where you two live you want to ADD an electric fan and with a manual operated switch have the electric fan cut in when your in traffic or when the a/c or engine temp start to rise in temp..

taking out the OEM fan and then to rely on some cheap poor quality electic fan in a hot area 100+ is not thinking correctly...

a much better solution is to keep the coolant system free of corrosion...then to add a large tranny cooler this will keep things working correctly...all the tranny generated heat will bypass the engine coolant in the radiator so little if any heat from tranny will be added to the engine coolant ..

[Da Burb]

Not helpful but thanks. I did all that. Did you see where I said I upgraded the radiator? I am looking to free up some horsepower and MPG. I flush the radiotor, I am running royal purple tranny fluid, this suburban has a tranny cooler, I just want to put an aftermarket electric fan without spending hudreds on a custom fit one. I am pretty sure I am thinking correctly. A lot of cars and thrucks here in the DFW area have electric fans. Thanks.

[rhandwor]

Remember you may need a larger alternator if you go to electric fans. It takes power to run large 150 amp. alternators.

[mishalah]

Originally Posted by rhandwor

Remember you may need a larger alternator if you go to electric fans. It takes power to run large 150 amp. alternators.

Good point!

Speaking of keeping the cooling system clean: I just flushed out the DexCool and replaced it with standard Green. I have seen far too many examples of DexCool damage to leave it in there. Anyway, after flushing the entire system until it ran fully clear (and after using a radiator/system cleaner) I pumped out what I thought was the rest of the water (lower hose off), closed everything up, replaced the T-stat, and began filling with Green. It only took about 7 quarts...the same amount that had originally come out when draining the Dex from the radiator plug.

So, now I have 7 qts of nice new green mixed with TAP water. Very high alkali tap water that generally grunges up anything it touches. Dammmmm! I guess I should have done the flush at the end with several gallons of distilled water to make sure the tap crap was gone, but I thought all of it had pumped out.

The question is: how long can I run this as is, or do I need to start all over and waste almost 2 gallons of good green stuff? It's just AZ basic green ($9/gal) but it's a lot of work and another $20 I don't want to throw away. IS THE BASIC GREEN GOING TO RETAIN ITS PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES WITH MY NASTY TAP WATER???

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Da Burb

Not helpful but thanks. I did all that. Did you see where I said I upgraded the radiator? I am looking to free up some horsepower and MPG. I flush the radiotor, I am running royal purple tranny fluid, this suburban has a tranny cooler, I just want to put an aftermarket electric fan without spending hudreds on a custom fit one. I am pretty sure I am thinking correctly. A lot of cars and thrucks here in the DFW area have electric fans. Thanks.

well I guess where you live electric fans do not consume any HP...

the alternator just has a free ride, no loading .......

cheap fan and not properly controlled with the larger amp alternator , this summer you'll be in deep shit..Its your vehicle , let us know how it works out this august..

[Da Burb]

I had three questions for the forum.

Anyone have any experience with this? Will 9 amps overwork the alternator in the summer? Is 2100 CFM enough air movement?

I specifically asked about the alternator, I don't believe it uses as much power as a fan and fan clutch, even when loaded. If the OEM can't handle the draw than I can upgrade, which is why I am on this forum, to get some helpful advice from the experts or someone who had done this swap (question 1). I am on here to ask about properly controlling the fan (question 2). If I replace the OEM fan I am curious to know if 2100 CFM (from a high quality electric fan) is enough air sitting in traffic. How much air is the OEM fan pulling in around idle speeds, is it comparable to the electric fan? (question 3)


Thanks in advance to anyone with any HELPFUL advice. I appreciate your time.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Da Burb

I had three questions for the forum.

Anyone have any experience with this? Will 9 amps overwork the alternator in the summer? Is 2100 CFM enough air movement?

I specifically asked about the alternator, I don't believe it uses as much power as a fan and fan clutch, even when loaded. If the OEM can't handle the draw than I can upgrade, which is why I am on this forum, to get some helpful advice from the experts or someone who had done this swap (question 1). I am on here to ask about properly controlling the fan (question 2). If I replace the OEM fan I am curious to know if 2100 CFM (from a high quality electric fan) is enough air sitting in traffic. How much air is the OEM fan pulling in around idle speeds, is it comparable to the electric fan? (question 3)


Thanks in advance to anyone with any HELPFUL advice. I appreciate your time.

your expectations:

I am looking to install an electric cooling fan and remove the OEM fan and fan clutch. I am not looking to spend $300 or $400 or more for a custom application. I have seen some universal fans for less than hundred dollars that move 2100 CFM and draw 9 amps. I can wire with the harness for about $40.

my opinon " NOT GONNA HAPPEN/WORK WHERE YOU LIVE " !

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Da Burb

I had three questions for the forum.

Anyone have any experience with this? Will 9 amps overwork the alternator in the summer? Is 2100 CFM enough air movement?

I specifically asked about the alternator, I don't believe it uses as much power as a fan and fan clutch, even when loaded. If the OEM can't handle the draw than I can upgrade, which is why I am on this forum, to get some helpful advice from the experts or someone who had done this swap (question 1). I am on here to ask about properly controlling the fan (question 2). If I replace the OEM fan I am curious to know if 2100 CFM (from a high quality electric fan) is enough air sitting in traffic. How much air is the OEM fan pulling in around idle speeds, is it comparable to the electric fan? (question 3)


Thanks in advance to anyone with any HELPFUL advice. I appreciate your time.

so because you want exact facts you'll like this..

with the 5.7L engine you will need with the basic cooling a 250watt fan thats 20 amps ...with the heavy duty cooling you will need a 400 watt fan thats about 34 amps...

so its your vehicle go for it with the cheap fan ...

[mishalah]

What do the newer Burbs use? I'm pretty sure they don't still have big mechanical fans. I'm guessing a dual fan setup with thermostat and a/c switch? Maybe a 165 amp alternator? Dunno about relays, fuses, and wiring in the circuit.

[rhandwor]

Pep Boys sells a fan controller which is a relay rated at 30 amps. It comes with a temperature switch for people who can't diagnose their fan problems.

[Elbert]

9amps is not much of a load. IF the fan only consumes 9 amps its not going to cool your truck. You cannot cool a 5.7 suburban with a cheapo single electric fan.

No matter how you swap fans around your MPG gain will be min.

If you want to use electric radiator fans you will need a dual fan setup, and something like a 140Amp Alternator, specific fan relays with appropriate wiring, and a control point.

Check out SPAL products for good fans and hardware plus wiring.

My advice is to keep you OEM fan setup.

To have an adequate electric radiator fan setup is goign to cost a few $$$... Milage gains and HP gains will not be worth screwing with that..

Most of the "serious" electric radiator fans draw 30AMPs or more.

Get the large 16inch s blade SPAL fans, with the mounts and use their relays, and controller.

The people who advertise a 9 amp draw or some other crazy low amp draw fan are (1) selling jumk (2) dont have a clue about the amperage draw.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Elbert

9amps is not much of a load. IF the fan only consumes 9 amps its not going to cool your truck. You cannot cool a 5.7 suburban with a cheapo single electric fan.

No matter how you swap fans around your MPG gain will be min.

If you want to use electric radiator fans you will need a dual fan setup, and something like a 140Amp Alternator, specific fan relays with appropriate wiring, and a control point.

Check out SPAL products for good fans and hardware plus wiring.

My advice is to keep you OEM fan setup.

To have an adequate electric radiator fan setup is goign to cost a few $$$... Milage gains and HP gains will not be worth screwing with that..

Most of the "serious" electric radiator fans draw 30AMPs or more.

Get the large 16inch s blade SPAL fans, with the mounts and use their relays, and controller.

The people who advertise a 9 amp draw or some other crazy low amp draw fan are (1) selling jumk (2) dont have a clue about the amperage draw.

If this guy has any common sense he will leave it alone.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by MazdaX

If you had any common sense you wouldn't be such a tool all the time.

sounds like you where successful with his 100.oo fan idea .