- Location
- Houston, Tx
How are your mounts?
HD fan clutch upgrade...
- Thread starter xj88superjeep
- Start date
How are your mounts?
wolfpackjeeper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 500' and 500KCAS, RAF lakenheath
- Location
- Houston, Tx
You could say the same thing about every sort of upgrade people do.
You shouldn't need an aftermarket transmission cooler if everything is working fine.
You shouldn't need a lift kit if you were using your Jeep as intended from the factory
You shouldn't put a new stereo in because its too loud.
I'd rather upgrade my cooling system to overkill so that when I'm out in Death Valley wheeling in 110+ degree temperatures or sitting on the LA freeway in 105 degree temps the Jeep won't overheat. These vehicles are getting older; try as we all do, things dont always work as well as they did when they were new. We upgrade, and hope we can do a bit better.
For the price, this one is a no brainer.
bigalpha
Moderator
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
Right. If the system is working right, you don't; unless you tow, etc.
Also true.
Loud noises are bad for your hearing.
So all those stock XJs running around in LA in rush hour traffic also have a problem with overheating?
Did they all have a problem with overheating from the factory too? Seems like Jeep should have included HD fans with them, then.
- Location
- Houston, Tx
All of them, I'm not sure. Other members of this board? Yeah, some have had the problem.
I guess you think high flow water pumps are a bad idea too?
I guess you think high flow water pumps are a bad idea too?
bigalpha
Moderator
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
Yes.
Again, IMO, all you're doing is covering up the symptoms. Kind of like taking a pain killer for a sprained ankle so you can keep playing sports.
veedubshafer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Palmerton PA
Eh, I sort of agree and sort of disagree with all the talk saying its a band aid type fix....if it works though then who cares...it's a pretty cheap upgrade and it seems as though Jeep must have been "band-aiding" the ZJ because they only used it the final 2 years of production. Just food for though.
bigalpha
Moderator
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
Everyone prepare yourself, I will attempt to make an analogy:
Pretend you have cancer and this cancer made you run a very high fever. Instead of diagnosing and treating the cancer, the Dr's only treat your fever. Well, your fever may go away, but you still have cancer.
This is sorta the same thing.
dagr8tim
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbus, Oh
I respectfully disagree. My XJ runs EXACTLY text book for temps (even after 12 years and 250K). I'm considering some sort of cooling upgrade because I get nervous whenever the temp goes above 210 (only happens when idling with the AC on).
If you have a cooling issue, then a fan mod will not do anything but prolong the agony. In my case, it's a feasible mod.
wolfpackjeeper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 500' and 500KCAS, RAF lakenheath
I am running a stroker, with a stock wp, thermo, thermo housing, and hoses. I do have a 3 core radiator, and no fan. electrical or mechanical. I will put one on there eventually, when i score a good electric from the boneyard, or when I finally break down and buy one. I do not break 210 unless I sit at a long, long light, after sitting at a few others first. My cooling system works.
Untill I burned it out, I was just using the aux electric fan. And it more than did the job. If I can cool a 4.7L stroker with no fan, it does show that you may need to look into other problems if you cannot cool a stock motor with 2 fans.
By no means am I saying my setup is the greatest, this is just where it sits now. As a secondary vehicle it is not a priority it fix, I can afford to wait on a good deal for a nice twin electric fan setup.
Untill I burned it out, I was just using the aux electric fan. And it more than did the job. If I can cool a 4.7L stroker with no fan, it does show that you may need to look into other problems if you cannot cool a stock motor with 2 fans.
By no means am I saying my setup is the greatest, this is just where it sits now. As a secondary vehicle it is not a priority it fix, I can afford to wait on a good deal for a nice twin electric fan setup.
wolfpackjeeper
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 500' and 500KCAS, RAF lakenheath
for the record, I believe high flow water pumps to be a waste of money, along with high flow thermostats and housings. There is such a thing as too much flow, the water does not stay in the radiator long enough to dissipate heat.
you can spend the money, and I am sure hesco will be glad to take it. There are just better places to splurge. A good radiator is key, advance sells an all metal 3 core for $200. The stock water pump moves a large volume of water, and I have yet to run into a problem with the stock thermo. I do run the premium version made of better material though.
in the end you have to get good at diagnosing problems. This can be a fine upgrade, but I would probe the rest of the system first to make sure it is up to specs.
you can spend the money, and I am sure hesco will be glad to take it. There are just better places to splurge. A good radiator is key, advance sells an all metal 3 core for $200. The stock water pump moves a large volume of water, and I have yet to run into a problem with the stock thermo. I do run the premium version made of better material though.
in the end you have to get good at diagnosing problems. This can be a fine upgrade, but I would probe the rest of the system first to make sure it is up to specs.
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hubs97xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
You're not trying to fix an overheating problem- you're trying to make sure there isn't one. That would be analogous to taking the aspirin in the hopes you don't get a fever. In either case, it is not about fixing an actual problem.
I think Big's making a valid point here.
- Location
- Houston, Tx
You're 75 years old and want to have sex. You can't get it up like you used to.
You take Viagra, problem solved.
Better analogy
bigalpha
Moderator
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
You're 75 years old and want to have sex. You can't get it up like you used to.
You take Viagra, problem solved.
Better analogy
That's a terrible analogy to this situation.
veedubshafer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Palmerton PA
See, one of the other problems here is that not every XJ is the same. Any vehicle produced in such a mass as these things were is going to have some that run better than others. If someone is having a sever overheating problem then obviously this is not a good fix to band-aid the situation. On the other hand if you are running normally at the regular 210 and just want to knock it down a little for that steep hill you drive everyday or just to cool it a bit more (I know this is worse for fuel consumption yada yada yada) its not a bad idea. I will probably do this mod at some point to see how I like it. Oh, and this fan was also used on many 2.5 applications.
bigalpha
Moderator
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
Bingo. Installing the fan clutch because you're overheating is, IMO, not the best option.
Installing the fan clutch when everything is working just fine to provide a tad more cooling on those long uphill climbs is just fine.
- Location
- Houston, Tx
That I can agree with.
I'm out in Death Valley wheeling in 110+ degree temperatures
===============================================
I draged a 3820 LB trailer in Death Valley with a very fresh bone stock 01. When it hit 107 I had to cut the AC in the foot hills. Yes I took it very easy but all when well.
Just wanted people to know what a XJ and it's stock coolant system can do when up to specs.
===============================================
I draged a 3820 LB trailer in Death Valley with a very fresh bone stock 01. When it hit 107 I had to cut the AC in the foot hills. Yes I took it very easy but all when well.
Just wanted people to know what a XJ and it's stock coolant system can do when up to specs.
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eleduardok
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Waverly Indiana
the NAPA part #272310 doesnt even come close to the fan bolt holes on my *5 Country... got it all apart, clutches sitting here. like 1/2 spacing difference. guess the old one goes back on till I get a stocker...
veedubshafer
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Palmerton PA
well, ordered mine from advance auto parts today...I will post up after its installed
