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Aluminum Radiator
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Coolant temperature sensor – Temperature probes come in a few different styles and can be specific to your electric fan controller. Some are located in the radiator fins; others screw into the water passages in the engine.
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Heater Core Contamination – Dirt and debris can make its way into any cooling system and clog it up. Having your system flushed is always a good idea.
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Maradyne's Jetstreme II
Maradyne's Jetstreme II features the company's quiet S-blade design and a rubber seal to eliminate vibration contact and increase airflow. Fitting 26" to 29" radiator cores, this low-profile fan has dual sealed motors that are IP68-certified dustproof and waterproof.
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Puller Fan
Puller Fan & Pusher Fan – electric fans are typically designed to run in only one direction. They are commonly referred to as “pusher” or “puller” style fans. Indicating arrows showing the direction of air travel are on most.
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Pusher Fan
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Variable Speed Fan Controller
We have been running one of these Flex-a-lite fan controllers for years without an issue. Features like variable speed operation, fully potted electronics, indicator lights and adjustable set point make them a wheelers dream.
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Aluminum Radiator
Bryan Irons
If you’ve ever had the “pleasure” of waiting for one of your buddies to fill his cooling system with swamp water at every pond you pass, you know how frustrating it can be. Don’t be “that guy” on the trail. Take care of your cooling system, it’s worth the effort. Radiator, fan, thermostat, pump, hoses and coolant make up the major components in nearly every liquid cooled vehicle on the planet.
Coolant is the life blood of the entire system. Green, red, orange, purple, blue, no matter the color, coolant is used for more then just keeping the motor from melting down. It needs to be able to keep from freezing, have a boiling point above that of your engines systems running temperature, lubricate the pump bushings, and transfer the heat of the engine efficiently to the radiator. Most of us are using a mixture of ethylene glycol (the green stuff) and distilled water. Using tap water should be a last resort as the added minerals in most tap water can break down cooling system components. Inexpensive testers to check the freezing and boiling points of your fluid are available at any parts store. Always replace your fluid at the recommended change intervals with the recommended fluid to ensure you’re not searching for a stream to swill fluid for your rig.
The thermostat, although small, plays one of the most crucial roles under the hood. Its job is to regulate the temperature of the system. It does this by restricting the flow of coolant to the radiator. Thermostats are available in various temperature ranges, but modern vehicles with electronic fuel injection require a minimum temperature to run at peak performance. Installing a thermostat with a colder range may seem like a good way to keep under hood temperatures manageable, but fuel mileage and performance may suffer because of it. For the same reasons, removing the thermostat should only be done to get the vehicle off of the trail. Most units are inexpensive, and they are a wearable item, so changing the thermostat with a recommended replacement when you change your coolant is a good idea.
Pumping the fluid around the engine block and through the radiator is the job of the water pump. Off roading typically involves low speed, low rpm driving with a lot of load on the engine. So you are going to require a quality water pump able to circulate the coolant at these low RPM’s. I personally have not had the best of luck with rebuilt units and reach for a brand new pump when given the choice. A plethora of problems can occur with pumps from leaking bushings to worn out/corroded impeller blades. High volume pumps for many makes and models are available in the aftermarket, as well as electric units.
To many, a radiator is just a bunch or fins in between 2 tanks that carry fluid through them to cool. In a simplistic view, this is true, but radiator technology has actually changed quite a bit for the off road community. No longer are factory style units the only option. Factory crack-prone plastic tank radiators can be replaced with full brass radiators or even aluminum. Different tube sizes, a selection cooling fin densities and multiple rows of cooling tubes can be specified to custom radiator companies, or selected from catalogs of quality aftermarket units. If you have upgraded your engines performance levels, or even swapped a different style of engine in, it’s best to contact one of the radiator manufactures to assist you with selecting the proper unit.
Radiator caps are not just to keep the fluid from spilling out on the trail. They are designed to allow the system to pressurize to a predetermined level as the engine and fluid warm up. If a liquid is put under pressure, its boiling point is raised. So if the boiling point of your coolant can be raised, the chance of a boil over on the trail is reduced.
As stated earlier, lower speeds are involved in off roading. These slow speeds reduce the amount of airflow through the radiator to cool the engine down. Cooling fans are the answer. Both electric and mechanical fans are used with great success. Ensuring you have a properly fitted shroud to control the airflow is just as important as the fan itself. If running a mechanical “clutch” style fan, make sure the clutch is engaging when the temperature rises. If you have electrical fans, check to see that the temperature of the switching point is in line with the temperature setting of your thermostat. Fans with different CFM ratings can be had, most often time, this is a “bigger is better” situation. Aftermarket electric fan controllers include features such as override switches for water crossings, variable speed control, and relays to keep the fan running for a time after the vehicle is shut off. Sensors that screw into the engine block or push into the radiator fins to monitor the temperature are available.
Bench racing sessions don’t normally include the cooling system in a rig, but it really should be one of the first to ensure your motor stays “happy”. Many “snake oil” and “magic bean” solutions for keeping an engine running properly are out there, but basic maintenance and a few properly selected upgrades will help out your stock or modified rig.