26 replies to this topic

[Southy]

During this hot weather we have been having recently, my Mini is getting rather hot when sat in traffic which is a problem when doing convoys

Now I've been looking at some electric fan kits but they seem to be rather expensive around the £130 mark if not more.

Now is there any fans which I can use which I can find in a scrapyard and just buy the needed thermo switch, to help save money?

[toni6669]

During this hot weather we have been having recently, my Mini is getting rather hot when sat in traffic which is a problem when doing convoys

Now I've been looking at some electric fan kits but they seem to be rather expensive around the £130 mark if not more.

Now is there any fans which I can use which I can find in a scrapyard and just buy the needed thermo switch, to help save money?

If the engine just gets a little bit hot, in summer is normal that the engine gets hotter.

The best that you can do is to renew the antifreeze, that should be done every two years. Normally the original cooling system of the mini's is enough unless you have a race engine.

But if you want carry with the electri fan, get the mesuares of the space that you have available in the engine bay or wheel arch, and go to a scrap yard. Just make sure the direction of the flow of the new fan it's what you want.

I hope it helps

Edited by toni6669, 04 July 2010 - 09:11 PM.

[Southy]

Well Im running a fairly high spec 1380 which doesnt like tick over at the best of times, the temp just shoots through the roof when stationary. Its just had new coolant in and a good flush through also. Its running a 2 core rad aswell.

[bmcecosse]

Is the 4 core not THE rad to have ? The early small diameter water pump pulley is the one to have - certainly helped my big engine to stay cool. Try a 74 degree stat - and fit the 'export' fan. In v hot weather - may need to remove the grille - and some prop the rear edge of the bonnet open. You could fit a thermostat blanking sleeve for the summer. A cheap electric fan from a scrappy should be fine - just wire it to a switch for manual operation.

Edited by bmcecosse, 04 July 2010 - 09:23 PM.

[toni6669]

Well Im running a fairly high spec 1380 which doesnt like tick over at the best of times, the temp just shoots through the roof when stationary. Its just had new coolant in and a good flush through also. Its running a 2 core rad aswell.

I don't really know if that is normal in high spec engines, Where do you have the rad mounted?

[jayare]

What fan do you have on it at the moment? If it's the plastic 11-blade one is it on the right way (believe me I've seen them on the WRONG way round on cars which have never had work done on them suggesting there was at least one person at the factory who didn't get it right!) - the smooth side should be towards the rad.

Rover Coopers had an additional fan under the wing which only comes on when it gets really hot but any PULL fan - one which fits behind the rad on a modern car should work OK as long as it fits in the space. You could just wire it up through a manual switch which you can flick on when in traffic to save getting the thermoswitch,

JR

[Southy]

Its the super cool 2 core rad sorry, forgot there is a normal 2 core rad available also.
I think the 74 stat might be a good idea, not sure if its running one of these already, as you said the other option was the 6/4 or 2 blade fans to help out but I was under the impression these only move more air once moving?My problems only really arise when stationary, when moving it happily sits around 68C sat on the Motorway at around 70-80mph.

The other reason I was thinking of an electric fan was during the winter we just had it never rose above 50C due to the fan running constantly so wanted to try and eliminate the fan running constantly and cooling it.

[Southy]

I don't really know if that is normal in high spec engines, Where do you have the rad mounted?

It's a side mounted rad as original.

What fan do you have on it at the moment? If it's the plastic 11-blade one is it on the right way (believe me I've seen them on the WRONG way round on cars which have never had work done on them suggesting there was at least one person at the factory who didn't get it right!) - the smooth side should be towards the rad.

Rover Coopers had an additional fan under the wing which only comes on when it gets really hot but any PULL fan - one which fits behind the rad on a modern car should work OK as long as it fits in the space. You could just wire it up through a manual switch which you can flick on when in traffic to save getting the thermoswitch,

JR

Its running the 11 blade fan yes, ive doubled checked its fitted right and it is, fitted it the way its printed on the fan itself.

[Moke boy]

Unless I am very much mistaken, the 11 bladed fan's smooth face
should face the engine, as noted on the fan.

I believe that this is agreed with on the forum, plus this evening I am
going to re install mine, this way around due to past cooling issues with
the fan the otherway around.


David

[AndyMiniMad.]

As already said any lecky fan from a scrap yard will do as long as it fits under the wing. Dont worry about getting one which spins the correct way as they are all dc motors, so if its going the wrong way just reverse the wires. It wont go bang!! just backwards.

[Southy]

Ideally, I would like the actuall fan to fit right against the back of the radiator and blow air out of the wing. Would i have to fabricate my own brackets or can you get some with these already fitted to allow this?

[Sam14]

I dont know if this is correct but isnt the 4 blades fan just as good or better than the original fan?

[danrock101]

The less blades the fan has, the higher rpm it's designed for

[Southy]

That is true, but the issue I have is at low rpm, mainly when sat in traffic and as far as I'm aware they don't move as much air at low rpm the 4 blade fans?

Edited by Southy, 05 July 2010 - 10:14 PM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Am I right in thinking you want rid of the mechanical fan in favour of a lecky one? I only say this as you say you want to eliminate the fan runing constantly. This I think would be a bad idea!! Imagine if the control cct for the lecky fan failed or indeed the fan itself, No cooling at all!!! I think your best option is to keep the mechanical fan and add a lecky fan under the front wing, controled either thermostaticaly or via a switch in the car.

Andy