Elan s3 electronic radiator fan

[Dieschelan]

Hi

I’m looking for an electronic fan for a s3. Is possible to use the stock radiator or should I go for an aluminium radiator.
Where can I find an electronic fan for the s3?

Cheers

Diego

[RichardHawkins]

I bought mine from Cool Experts in Nottingham UK. I would have thought you could find something nearer home.

Richard Hawkins

[TBG]

Mine came from Coolexperts. Beautiful quality with twin Revotec fans - brilliant.

[elans3]

If your radiator is in good condition, you don't need the expense of an aluminium radiator, just a single Kenlowe. Revotec, Spal, Pacet fan of the right diameter.
If you buy a kit, you'll get the switching, mounting & thermostat bits with it too.
I have had Kenlowe fans in the past, very high quality . If you have an S3, you'll have the wider radiator anyway, much better than the short earlier version.

[TBG]

"you don't need the expense of an aluminium radiator"

Looks nice though!!

[MrBonus]

My S3 has an original radiator and a single 10.5 inch fan with an 74degree C thermostat. I have let the car idle for 15 minutes in 95 degree F humid heat and once the car hits 88 on the gauge, the fan kicks on and drops it down to 82ish degrees and can hold it indefinitely.

If I run the car hard on back roads, I can't even get the fan to come on in any weather as long as the car is moving, and that's driving at a sustained 4000+ RPM clip.

[elated]

Presumably that is what "mirror-finish" paintwork looks like!
Gordon

[MrBonus]

Presumably that is what "mirror-finish" paintwork looks like!
Gordon

The car was restored in the mid 90s, and the story I was told was the restorer dropped the car off at the body shop and asked for BRG. The paint shop, in the infancy of mobile internet, picked some horrid lime green and when the owner came to retrieve the car, he was completely appalled and demanded he repaint it. You can see the lime green peeking through in places it chipped and, sadly, I don't think anywhere under the hood was painted.

However, overall, it's a pretty damn good paint job, at least where it hasn't chipped to show hints of lime green.

[billwill]

What is an ELECTRONIC fan as opposed to an ELECTRICAL fan ??

[Andy8421]

What is an ELECTRONIC fan as opposed to an ELECTRICAL fan ??

Modern electric fans for cars use brushless DC motors which have semiconductor switching electronics to control the current flow through the stator - rather like a 3 phase AC motor. This makes the motor smaller, more efficient and no brushes to wear out.

I am not sure this is what the OP meant, but the fans on modern cars are definitely electronic.

https://www.bosch-mobility-solutions.com/en/products-and-services/passenger-cars-and-light-commercial-vehicles/powertrain-systems/thermal-management-for-combustion-engines/ec-motor/

[Seamus]

Does that mean that mine is electrical...............

[pharriso]

Does that mean that mine is electrical...............

Very!..... Nice original unit

[billwill]

What is an ELECTRONIC fan as opposed to an ELECTRICAL fan ??

Modern electric fans for cars use brushless DC motors which have semiconductor switching electronics to control the current flow through the stator - rather like a 3 phase AC motor. This makes the motor smaller, more efficient and no brushes to wear out.

I am not sure this is what the OP meant, but the fans on modern cars are definitely electronic.

https://www.bosch-mobility-solutions.com/en/products-and-services/passenger-cars-and-light-commercial-vehicles/powertrain-systems/thermal-management-for-combustion-engines/ec-motor/

Ah, not a bad idea I suppose. The fans in computers are also usually brushless DC motors.

Less maintenance, they last for years & then are usually 'fixed' by a drop of oil on the spindle.

Mind you I've not had any problem with my Kenlowe brushed DC motor on the cooling fan & its been on the car many many years.