Electric Fan or Not That is the Question

[David Maddern]

I have been pondering the fitting of a Kenlowe fan on the Stag, no aparant reason, other that I question the effeciency of the thero couple original. The car has not overheat problems, although the expansion tank is always empty when I look at it, the temp of the engin when warm is always between 80 and 90 degrees and never goes above.
My only reason for pondering the question is the fan will decrease the power from the engine and anything must help increase the effeciency to keep the fuel consumption down.
Interested to hear from others on thier opinion.
DavidStag.jpg

[martin]

Hi David, as soon as I got my old girl 7 years ago, I fitted a Pacet fan, much better price than a Kenlowe, it's as much to do with belt and braces on an old car as anything else. Mine's controlled by an adjustable switch in the rad, but the type that fit in the top hose are just as good. There's a housing for them that's quite cheap, it's let into the top hose, and looks professional. Martin.

[mauvstag38]

Hi,
I have a Kenlowe fitted it doesn,t come on very often but very handy when caught in traffic.
George.

[mjheathcote]

When I bought my Stag, it had a 14.5" Kenlowe fan only.
The temperature would be going up and down with the fan cutting in and out.
At night, the lights would dim and the volt meter drop everytime the fan cut in.
When in heavy traffic, I would cross my fingers with the worry that the fuse might blow.
Then the fan did not cut out one time leaving me stranded when returning to the Stag one afternoon....

I then fitted the original mechanical fan back on, resulting in a stable running temperature with the electric fan never cutting in.
Following restoration of my Stag, I never refitted the electric fan, and all has been well for the last 16 years as Triumph intended (except the header tank that is, I fitted a turret mounted header tank back in '86!)

My 2p.

Cheers,
Mike

[KOY 23]

Mine is back up and gives peace of mind when stuck in traffic on a hot day, the only time it cuts in..

John.

[flying farmer]

All my Stag engined cars run only electric fans, mostly as I don't like the idea of burning petrol just to turn a fan that is not needed most of the time. All my cars also have manual switches only. I tried thermostatically controlled ones when the bottom steel hose for the TR became available with a boss for fitting a thermostat, but after two thermostat failures in two years I was never able to trust them again so went back to a manual switch.
Since all four of my triumphs have manual switches I am in the habit of keeping an eye on the temp when in traffic, though unless the weather is exceptionally hot, ordinary stop start traffic doesn't normally need the fan.
The worse for running hot is the Stag, but significantly the radiator on the TR is a standard 4 row item that is exactly the same size as the Stag radiator, therefore I am going to fit a 4 row rad to the Stag. The radiator on the estate is a 3 row item , but it is significantly larger than the Stag rad in width as there is no battery to take up space
Neil

[Colonel Mustard]

My Stag has the original viscous fan and a kenlowe thermostatically controlled fan. It also has a 74 degree thermostat (all this was done by the specialist who sold me the car). The result is that the temp runs cool all the time. In winter driving the guage doesn't move...and the heater is rubbish. Occassionally when stuck in traffic on a hot day or after switching off the electronic fan will cut in for a very short while. I'm happy with the dual fan arrangement but think the 74 degree thermostat is going a bit too far...might try a hotter one?

Chris

[Malcolm C]

Dave
My Stag has no viscous fan just a 11" kenlowe thermostatically controlled fan,with a manual override and
88 Deg Thermostat
Went to Le-Mans and back last year 40c,ran like a dream with no water lost, if I fitted a new one I would fit a larger one,
Your welcome to pop over to see the setup (not in tomorrow or Sunday)

[V Mad]

My Stag has the original viscous fan and a kenlowe thermostatically controlled fan. It also has a 74 degree thermostat (all this was done by the specialist who sold me the car). The result is that the temp runs cool all the time. In winter driving the guage doesn't move...and the heater is rubbish. Occassionally when stuck in traffic on a hot day or after switching off the electronic fan will cut in for a very short while. I'm happy with the dual fan arrangement but think the 74 degree thermostat is going a bit too far...might try a hotter one?
Chris

I would advise you to get your cooling system properly checked out, ie gauge and sender to start with; if they are reading true and your engine is not warming up, thats not good at all.

Anyone who puts 74 degree thermostat in stag is a specialist in bodging. You are wasting fuel, and not doing the engine any good at all!

Sorry to be blunt but its better than ignoring it.

[nib]

I have been pondering the fitting of a Kenlowe fan on the Stag, no aparant reason, other that I question the effeciency of the thero couple original. The car has not overheat problems, although the expansion tank is always empty when I look at it, the temp of the engin when warm is always between 80 and 90 degrees and never goes above.
My only reason for pondering the question is the fan will decrease the power from the engine and anything must help increase the effeciency to keep the fuel consumption down.
Interested to hear from others on thier opinion.
David[ATTACH=CONFIG]9007[/ATTACH]

Hi David
If your filling the expansion bottle half or third full via the rad when cold and finding the expansion bottle keeps emptying there must be a problem and would first find the cause as I think this is more important than a fan that is working ok,it may be something simple like a loose jubilee clip.Have you got any traces of a leak anywhere?
Mark

[StagnJag]

I took my Kenlowe off last year, and now only have the original set up. My Stag will sit in traffic quite happily on a hot day without getting hot - as proved by sitting in traffic going North through the Dartford Tunnel for two hours on the way to the National down South last year. (It is a long story!). Stag behaved impeccably.

Rgds

Dave

[Colonel Mustard]

I think that the specialist that sold the car was being too cautious by going the whole belt and braces way of fitting a 74 degree thermostat and an electric fan. We've had the car over a year now and it has never used a drop of water or oil. Just serviced it and the coolant that drained out was clear.

The guage does work but you've got to let it run in traffic for a while to see it rise. But you're right about the thermostat. I think I'll be fitting a higher temperature one soon...especially now I know the car doesn't seem to suffer any cooling system problems.

Chris

[Bob Heritage]

I took my Kenlowe off last year, and now only have the original set up. My Stag will sit in traffic quite happily on a hot day without getting hot - as proved by sitting in traffic going North through the Dartford Tunnel for two hours on the way to the National down South last year. (It is a long story!). Stag behaved impeccably.

Rgds

Dave

You should get a map Dave

[StagnJag]

The plan was, to meet up with AndyP and a few others who were southbound at Thurrock services, normally about 15mins trip for me. However horrendous traffic that day meant that it took something like 2-3 hours to get to Thurrock and a couple more hours to get back to the junction I originally joined the M25 on, which is 5 mins from my front door!!! I was not a happy bunny!

[Stagbythesea]

I took my Stag out last Saturday, it was quite warm for late March, 17 degrees. During the trip got stuck in heavy traffic and the Kenlowe cut in, the gauge hardly moved. I feel the same as a couple of other members, i.e. piece of mind.

Nick