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Electric Fan power increase

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Rons01TRD, Jul 7, 2014.

  1. Jul 9, 2014 at 3:40 PM
    #41
    Rons01TRD

    Rons01TRD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hmmmm, funny I have 12+ years with Northrop Grumman working on the F-14 Tomcat, E-2C Hawkeye and three years with Boeing working on F-15C & D Eagle aircraft and not yet had one issue maintaining my truck. I must be pretty damn good at it.:)
     
  2. Jul 9, 2014 at 4:09 PM
    #42
    nagorb

    nagorb Should be a dang perma mod

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    Some people are a little slow I guess;)
     
  3. Jul 9, 2014 at 5:25 PM
    #43
    StAndrew

    StAndrew Wait for it...

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    Intake, exhaust, lift. Typical stuff.
    Is this why we're hitchhiking with the Russians...? We should probably stop doing maintenance (or start doing it right).
    Its only a matter of time before you start putting your engine oil in the coolant, coolant in the trans, and trans fluid in the headlights, but only %50 of the time.
     
  4. Jul 9, 2014 at 6:46 PM
    #44
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    The maintenance analysts at Grumman and Boeing with access to fleet reliability stats will likely tell a very different story. :)
     
  5. Jul 9, 2014 at 8:45 PM
    #45
    nagorb

    nagorb Should be a dang perma mod

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    Then they have a bunch of idiots working for them. If I caused problems 50% of the time my boss would throw me out the fucking door. Seriously you are suggesting not do maintenance because you might do something wrong? I hope you don't leave the house cause ya could get in an accident or a rock could cause havoc under your truck:eek:

    Also doing maintenance on a vehicle is a bit different then on an aircraft;)
     
  6. Jul 9, 2014 at 9:49 PM
    #46
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    50% of failures caused by maintenance doesn't mean 50% of maintenance actions cause failures. ;) There's a big difference there.

    Indeed. Most civilian transport and military aircraft have redundant systems to withstand single-point failures. Whereas a single failed part in your vehicle's rear diff or suspension can send you to the nearest wall or cliff. :)
     
  7. Jul 9, 2014 at 10:21 PM
    #47
    nagorb

    nagorb Should be a dang perma mod

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    If it's not caused by maintenance actions then your point is invalid;)

    Yep so hope you don't drive, ever. No regular maintenance done to a vehicle will cause death and destruction unless you are careless and/or stupid. Your example of someone putting tranny fluid in the radiator was someone who clearly shouldn't be doing anything to their own car. I've been working on my cars since I first got my license. Never have I done any damage doing regular maintenance to a vehicle and very rarely hear of others doing it either. as to your fear of rounding a bolt head :eek: it happens, even to the specialists, it's generally easy to fix and is more likely to happen if maintenance is not kept up with.

    Anyway have fun never changing fluids, breaks, hoses or whatever might go wrong:rolleyes:
     
  8. Jul 9, 2014 at 10:52 PM
    #48
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    You still don't understand what I said in post 45. 50% of failures caused by maintenance is not the same as saying 50% of maintenance actions cause failures. Think for a moment before going off on hyperbole.
     
  9. Jul 10, 2014 at 3:58 AM
    #49
    Rons01TRD

    Rons01TRD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well since it's a 2001 and I've owned it most of it's existance and not yet had any failures; I feel pretty safe at this point. :)

    You don't know me so why judge my maintenance practices? I do it for my piece of mind and because my daughter asked for my truck when she turns 16 so I do what I do to make it last and her happy. If I choose to do extra it's my choice.
     
  10. Jul 10, 2014 at 8:21 AM
    #50
    StAndrew

    StAndrew Wait for it...

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    Intake, exhaust, lift. Typical stuff.
    I think that example was more of a joke IRT this thread: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/33318-halp.html (hence my "Krazie" comment above)
    You're on the internet. Everything you say or do is subject to judgment.
     
  11. Jul 10, 2014 at 9:32 AM
    #51
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    IMO an electric fan would not be worth the time unless one also adds a "smart" alternator controller, that converts our old system into what all the new cars do. The alternators now are a passive small parasitic drag (not providing power, car is running off of the battery) when the engine is inefficient (acceleration, idle), and 'kicks on' when its not costing any gas or the engine is most efficient (decelerating, cruising at a key RPM on the freeway etc). Kind of the plan some hybrid drive trains use. In fact there are different 'tiers' of hybridization and on the lowest end are cars that have a stupid beefy alternator/motor, and motorize the alternator during acceleration (obviously probably has a beefed up belt or linkage), and acts as alternator/generator on decel/efficient cruising. I believe there was a Chevy Malibu model that was on this low tier. I suppose it made an 1 MPG or so difference, as the next tier up I believe are systems like what the Honda Prius wanna-be used- simply an electric motor/gen sandwiched between motor and tranny. Honda no longer uses this system (at least no longer making that model, and not using this style on the new Accord) as it had mediocre results as well.

    That controller would give you a power gain (no power taxing alternator when romping on it), and an MPG gain, and could effectively make the electric fans use only "free" power (electricity gained during decel etc) saved in the battery, as the entire 12vdc distribution system is on this program.

    Would be an interesting Arduino project, lots of inputs, coding etc. At the end of the day, I wonder if the gain (be it power, MPGs or both) would be worth the $$ in parts. Doubt it with Chevy and Honda ditching the lower tier of hybridizing.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2014
  12. Jul 10, 2014 at 3:10 PM
    #52
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    My comment in post 53 was in response to nagorb. I have no problems with what you do. In fact, read through the thread and you'll see my comments to you started as a joke until nagorb decided to take it seriously.
     
  13. Jul 10, 2014 at 4:41 PM
    #53
    Southern01Taco

    Southern01Taco Well-Known Member

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    I can't really say if my e-fans helped with the power or not because I installed the supercharger at the same time but I highly doubt that it helped. The main reason I installed them was because I was having problems with my truck overheating with the clutch fan while wheeling because I stay in 4lo and wasn't getting enough airflow through my radiator. I switched to the e-fans and the problem disappeared completely. But I will say that the dual flex-a-lite fans are very loud. I would say 2 maybe even 3 times as loud as the clutch fan but they are moving way more air. I finally put a switch on mine so that I can shut them off if I'm trying to talk to someone or ordering food in a drive-through. The biggest issue that I've had is the control box that comes with the flex-a-lite fans are junk. The circuit board kept cooking my connectors and finally burnt one of the spades completely off. Part of the problem is that they are not sealed at all so it was getting moisture in it and causing alot of corrosion. I started to order a new box but decided to take it apart. I figured out how it worked and then made it work without the circuit board (it's actually pretty simple). I haven't had a problem since. My suggestion is that if you aren't having heat problems like I was or have another specific reason for wanting them, then I would just stay away from the e-fans.
     
  14. Jul 10, 2014 at 10:44 PM
    #54
    RdRunr

    RdRunr Well-Known Member

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    Yes, great project for an Arduino! Or a PIC, if needed. I was thinking of doing something similar. Also a smart A/C. Compressor runs only when decelerating or braking, and maybe light cruise if needed. Would it be worth the time and $$? Of course not, but it would be a fun project and you might get a fractional increase in efficiency.
     
  15. Jul 10, 2014 at 11:40 PM
    #55
    RdRunr

    RdRunr Well-Known Member

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    Don't know which is cheaper, but I would think the viscous fan is more reliable?
     
  16. Jul 11, 2014 at 12:21 AM
    #56
    cosmicfires

    cosmicfires Well-Known Member

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    I put an electric fan on my 1978 2wd Toyota Pickup. I didn't notice any performance change. When the electric fan died I put the viscous drive fan back on.
     
  17. Jul 11, 2014 at 1:38 AM
    #57
    Lost pilot

    Lost pilot Well-Known Member

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    Just take the fan out altogether, saves weight and frees up some HP!
     
  18. Jul 11, 2014 at 9:05 AM
    #58
    BlackSportD

    BlackSportD Well-Known Member

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    Icon/TC Mid travel, TRD S/C, PNP Greddy EMU, 625cc injectors, 2.2 pulley, Hayden tranny cooler, AEM wideband, TRD boost gauge.
    And that is the root source of most of my automotive projects lol. The learning and growing part is fun, and its not out of a good break-down of time/cost vs. gain.
     

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