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Overheating while wheeling

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Offline keith

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Overheating while wheeling
« on: April 24, 2010, 08:39:49 PM »
Normally my Trackers temp guage stays about 1/3 of the way up from the cold mark.  Today when wheeling in 60 degree weather it was going to nearly the hot mark.  We had been driving a slow trail for about 2 hours with a lot of start and stopping to wait for others that were stuck or for the group to regroup.  On the drive home it went back to normal going no higher than 1/3 of the way up the scale.  Is this normal when wheeling?  Anything I can do to keep it out of the red zone?  It didn't actually go into the red zone, just got very close.  The radiator was NOT caked with mud.
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2010, 09:12:05 PM »
You need a fan clutch
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Offline keith

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2010, 04:37:47 AM »
The fan was turning while this was happening?  What happens with a worn fan cluch?  Does it allow too much slippage so the fan doesn't turn at full speed?

EDIT.  I found this description on another Suzuki site.

Quote
Before you start the engine for the first time for the day, try to turn the fan - it should turn, but with some resistance - start the engine, let it run for five minutes or so, and then switch it off - now try to turn the fan, it should turn freely.

Re-start the engine and leave it to idle but keep an eye on the temperature gauge, it the fan is NOT working the gauge will climb into the red as the engine warms and then overheats due to the lack of airflow - if it does not climb into the red within 15~20 minutes or so, your fan clutch is good.

Before start up, the fan will not spin freely because of the uneven distribution of the silicone fluid, which settles whilst the engine is off.

After the engine starts, the fluid will redistribute due to centrifugal force, disengaging the clutch - this is why the fan is audible when the engine is first started, and also why if the engine is stopped after the fluid has redistributed, the fan can be turned easily.

With the vehicle stationary and no "movement induced air flow" through the radiator, as the engine warms, the engine temps will gradually rise and if the fan clutch does not engage, and increase the air flow through the radiator, the engine temps will continue to rise above normal, and eventually you'll have an overheat condition.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2010, 04:46:05 AM by keith »
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Offline bentparts

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2010, 05:30:37 AM »
I think wild is right, fan clutch. You could always go electric too. The fans are not hard to find though, many for sale in classifieds, just put a " wanted " post in the forum.
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Offline keith

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2010, 12:14:56 PM »
Would I want a used one if mine is going bad?  Today the gauge started to creep up after 5 minutes of sitting.  The fan was turning while this was happening.  Was it just not turning fast enough because the clutching mechanism was slipping?
« Last Edit: April 25, 2010, 02:41:43 PM by keith »
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2010, 12:18:35 PM »
Ya, you could stop the fan if you put something in there, it just
spins from the rotating shaft and minor amounts of friction, but
it will not drive the fan hard for cooling
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Offline bentparts

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2010, 04:45:13 PM »
Nothing wrong with a GOOD used one. I took one out of my Tracker that was in great condition when I did my turbo. Needed the extra space. Want it? $45 shipped.
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Online fordem

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2010, 06:04:58 PM »
I believe the post you quoted earlier is one of mine - it was written with the second generation Tracker/Grand Vitara in mind, but I guess it's applicable to the earlier model also.  What you're describing is the exact scenario I described in the second paragraph - and I'll bet that if you perform the first (pre-start) test in the first paragraph, you'll find the fan turns freely.

Quote from: keith on April 25, 2010, 12:14:56 PM
Would I want a used one if mine is going bad?  Today the gauge started to creep up after 5 minutes of sitting.  The fan was turning while this was happening.  Was it just not turning fast enough because the clutching mechanism was slipping?

The fan is turning, but it is unable to move enough air because the fan clutch is slipping.
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Offline keith

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2010, 08:43:07 PM »
Tonight I started it and let it run.  After 20 minutes the temp gauge was only at 1/3 way up the scale.
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Online fordem

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2010, 04:58:53 AM »
I assume that is without changing the fan clutch - I'd say keep an eye on it, it's going to go completely at some point.
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Offline keith

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2010, 05:52:33 AM »
Yes, that was without changing anything.
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Offline keith

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2010, 08:39:15 PM »
Tonight I tested it again.  After 20 minutes of idling it was about 1/2 way up the heat scale.  I was then able to stop the fan blade with a piece of wood (paint stir stick) with moderate effort.   With a good fan clutch should I be able to stop the fan by hand at all?
« Last Edit: May 07, 2010, 09:05:54 PM by keith »
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Bobthebiker

Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2010, 08:52:15 PM »
I'm not the expert here, but I would think a good fan clutch would keep the fan spinning and be launching any object used in an attempt to halt it.     Though I've not ever attempted to stop a fan from rotating,  I'm against hospital visits for things being launched into my body by the fan.
« Last Edit: May 07, 2010, 08:54:15 PM by Bobthebiker »
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Offline Drone637

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2010, 08:15:06 PM »
Yea, it should be a bit harder to stop then that.  I would recommend swapping it out or picking up an electric fan instead.
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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Overheating while wheeling
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2010, 06:40:08 AM »
Quote from: Bobthebiker on May 07, 2010, 08:52:15 PM
I'm not the expert here, but I would think a good fan clutch would keep the fan spinning and be launching any object used in an attempt to halt it.     Though I've not ever attempted to stop a fan from rotating,  I'm against hospital visits for things being launched into my body by the fan.

The viscous coupling is designed to let the fan slip, thats what reduces the load on the engine. If I remember rightly the fan should slip at around 4000rpm so even if the engine is doing 6000rpm, the fan only turns at 4000rpm. It should be possible to stop the fan with a rolled up newspaper or similar until the engine temperature starts to increase above normal operating temperature. At higher temps there is a bi-metallic spring in the centre of the fan clutch which expands and locks the fan up harder, increasing the throughput of air.
It took a good many years and a lot of wading to kill my fan clutch, I would suggest removing the radiator and ensuring that the fins are clear, my only overheating problems were caused by a clogged radiator and an airlock after replacing it. If you do a lot of mudding then ditch the fan shroud as it makes it impossible to clean the radiator sufficiently in-situ.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2010, 06:43:24 AM by Rhinoman »
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