Question about engine clutch fan

ok, im not a big complainer and i do love my truck (just got it last wednesday), but is anyone else bothered/annoyed by the fact that toyota used a clutch fan instead of an electric fan for engine/radiator cooling? it's not a big deal, i just dont know why they wouldnt have used an electric single or dual fan setup.

is it a good or bad idea to swap over to an electric unit? there has to be a few extra horses we can free up by going to an electric fan setup. not to mention you wont have to listen to that propeller spin under the hood any more haha.

 

I see the new F-150's have electric fans. It sure makes it easy to service to front of the engine, not that doing any pulley or belt work is that hard on the Taco's.

 

Draw back of a electric fan vs a clutch fan is that a electric fan has a huge inrush current as it starts up because really no EMF at zero rpm and when it stops is also generates a huge spike so the problems with that setup is arching on the start relay. Too many start stops cycles kills the starter contacts so when that happens the engine overheats and well that is usually really bad news. With a simple clutch you don't have that problem because the clutch windings are small compared to a motor. I''ll take a clutch over a electric fan any day. I already had a engine distroy itself when the fan starter relay failed. When the over heat engine light went on pulled immediately to the side of the road. Got it towed and the engine was NFG. 4 grand repair bill over a ten dollar relay. No thanks. They changed the engine under warranty even thought the warranty had expired. Told them if they didn't change it on there ticket I'd sue them. It's a stupid pathetic design. Not a Toyota though. No arc suppression on the start up relay so I would have won if it would have ended up in court. You need that on DC motors. When you turn off a motor it becomes a generator for a few seconds as it spins down but a clutch don't really do that. No arcing problem to worry about.

 

Clutch fans are not electric. They use viscious silicone fluid and a spring clutch. They clutch is locked on start until the fluid warms. The clutch unlocks until it reaches high operating temp and locks again.
It's simple, but power robbing. Electric fans can move more air (with duals), but are expensive and semi complicated to install (unless you know how and where to put the temp sensor and do wiring).
Each has trade-offs, but if you tow often, I'd put an aux electric fan in front of the condenser. Just make sure it will be able to move air the right direction.
Hope this helps.