viscous fan clutch
Every Machine they say deserves adequate maintenance to function effectively.
Let us assume you car develops an over heating problem and after diagnosis you are advised to replace the viscous fan clutch (commonly found in suv,s)
For the sake of many ignorant motorists and technicians as
well we have decided to shed more light on this small but very vital components in an automobile engine .
viscous fan clutch
Commonly found in SUV,S and other larger vehicles the viscous fan clutch is to what a thermos witch is to smaller cars. its function is simply to propel the engine fan to supply cool air to the radiator in order to decapitate heat from the engine , not just propelling the fan at will but to do so when the need arises, this is to say that as a thermos witch controls the function of the electric cooling fans in smaller cars so does the viscous fan clutch controls the function of the mechanical cooling fans in suvs and other similar larger vehicles
The viscous fans are primarily fitted in suvs and off road vehicles primarily because of their engine positions (longitudinal) which makes it near impossible to accommodate the electric fans.
HOW DOES THE VISCOUS FAN WORK?
Simply put the viscous fan is connected to the shaft of the engine using a fan belt or at the initial stage this device disengages the mechanical fan from drawing cool air but as the engine temperature begins to increase the viscous fan clutch gradually engages the mechanical fan which in turn draws cool air to decapitate from the radiator.
COMMON PRACTICES
Its a norm for most tech people to proffer temporary solutions when faces with a challenge of a bad viscous fan clutch, in some cases this fans are permanently welded to the shaft in order to prevent slippage, this on its own can result to poor gas mileage and other related issues.
viscous fan clutch
SYMPTOMS OF FAULTY VISCOUS FAN
There are common symptoms that are associated with a faulty viscous fan clutch, the symptoms includes overheating at low or idle speed whining noise when revving the vehicle, leaked silicon fluid, decreased fan speed, defective air condition at low idle speed, excessive spinning of the fan when engine is at rest position.
All these and many more are symptoms experienced when a viscous fan clutch becomes defective.
SOLUTION
Fix the components that are defective within the viscous clutch or out rightly replace the unit as a whole.
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Car Talk