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Has anyone experience of fitting a Kenlowe Fan, and if so which one? in front or behind the rad. I have a 1800 MGB engine with a 3 core Chevette rad. The engine does not quite boil but does run too hot at prolonged motorway speeds in high temps. I think this is caused by restricted airflow due to badly positioned spot lamps (badly positioned by me)which I am reluctant to move for other reasons, any suggestions greatly appreciated
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
No experience of electric fans - sorry. Just an observation, though; I understand the main use of these fans is for when the car is, or near, stationary. Ie when the 'ram' effect of the car is missing, and air doesn't pass through the rad.
Did this problem start when you fitted your spots?
Does your rad have a 'cowl' around it to direct the air flow through the rad?
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Ian, I had mine fitted in the front of the rad and make sure the fan is rotating the correct way so the air is pushed towards the engine and also the engines fan the pulling the air from the front. Also make sure there is no gaps around the rad to stop air loss.I have heard that Halfords sell a liquid called "wet water" and it helps reduce coolant temp by as much as 20% ??. If you look at other issues on the forum recently regarding overheating.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Fitting an electric fan won't help with your car getting too hot at motorway speeds. A 3 core rad should be more than adequate so as above make sure all the air is going through and not around.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Wetting agents are used a lot in racing. The Surface tension of the water is reduced and thus it can get in to the minute casting roughnesses in blocks etc to give a greater heat exchange. Downside is that the surface tension is less so the coolant can search out tiny leak points in the system. Make sure that the additive is compatible with your brand of anti-freeze.
Marlin Berlinetta 2.1 EfiComment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Message originally posted by: Don
I am suspicious of the so called wetting agents sold in motor accessory shops. The physics just doesn't add up, most antifreezes contain some detergent like molecules to help the coolant wet the surface of the water, however the claims of a 20% coolant temperature reduction are a bit much to be believed. The key property of a heat transfer medium is a figure called the number of transferable units; dependant on density, heat capacity and thermal conductivity, not on surface tension. Detergent like molecules increase viscosity and thus increase the thickness of the stagnant boundary layer, reducing heat flow. (If I remember my heat transfer physics correctly)Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Message originally posted by: `ben
Increasing the glycol content (IE more anti freeze) and that helps but I bet the main reason the car is getting hot when on fast running is the Air is not going throught he rad but around it. This then equalises the air pressure and reduces the air flow through the rad.Block off the space at the top of the cowl and flush the rad.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Many thanks for your interest guys, but to go back to my question HAS ANYONE FITTED A KENLOWE FAN AND IF SO WHICH ONE?Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
I have recently fitted a Fan but it was not a Kenlowe I got the Budget one from Car Builder Solutions. The Ten inch one. it came with a fixing kit and there is an option of auto switch or the way I went Manual switch. easy to fit but the car has been running hotter than normal since fitting and it caused me to abandon one trip on a really Hot day as the car was running far too hot for the first time in over three years. I too have the 1.8 with Chevette rad, over the last week I have flushed and back flushed the Rad and engine, changed the oil for a better type and treated the engine to STP engine addative as i have heard that having the right oil type and level can make quite a difference. This seems to have worked as I have been running round the last two days in heavy stop start traffic plus some longer fast runs and the old car is running just below normal most of the time. I have only had to use the fan when standing for longer than five minutes.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
I fitted my Fan in front of the Rad, quite easy as the nose section slides forward and with a slight tilt the fan can slide in from below.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Fitted a Pacet [similair to Kenlowe] to both my Roadster and Cabrio,pusher type fitted in front of rad.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
Millie has a fan taken from a Sierra. This needed to be cut to fit and bolted in place. It was a pull type but has been fitted in front of the rad to push. It is connected via a temperature sensor in the top hose. The fan only works when she has been in traffic for a while moving very slowly. Used production car fans are readily available and much cheaper than new one. I think that fans generally have an easy life and even used ones are in good condition.
Just to reiterate what has already been stated I doubt that any fan will move air at anything like 70 mph. At that speed a fan is much more likely to cause additional restriction to airflow. Surely your problems must be caused by a restriction in water flow.Comment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
I should also mention a drawback of having the fan on the downwind side of the rad is cleaning out the bugs is a bug**r.
PaulComment
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Re: Kenlowe Fan
The fan should be fitted behind the rad, not in front. I solved all my problems, even after fitting a smaller new rad (was Dolomite, now Toledo) - moved fan to back of rad & blanked are above the rad in top of cowling. Now the fan only runs on idle.
See the comment on this type of issue from "Canley Classics" the triumph specialists.
"Where do most after market electric fans fit on Triumphs?"
Smack bang in front of the radiator core masking anything up to 30/40% of the core, look how big that motor is, and how much area the fan blades mask when both stationary and when rotating, even the mounting brackets mask parts of the core. If you can't get the fan on the engine side of the radiator sucking warm air through it then take it off and throw it in the bin.
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