Clutch fan roaring in 1st/2nd?

[redfishsc]

Can clutch fans randomly start making roaring noises, similar to the loud roaring at cold startup?

The other day, I was accelerating in 1st after making a left onto the highway. I heard the engine roaring, as if it were revving up. Instinctively I let off the accelerator, thinking the trans was slipping.

Did it a second time on a side road, accelerating, seemingly in 2nd gear....... so I pulled over and checked the trans fluid. It was full, and very clean.

Air temps were definitely in the mid-90s, and trans was definitely warm (185) but not overheating. I checked the trans temp with it still running (scan tool) when I got her home.


Since then I've had a hard time replicating the scenario. It did it a little today as I drove around the block, and it only did it a little. Engine gets noticeably louder.


The fact that it sounds a LOT like a cold-start roaring clutch fan makes me wonder if the clutch is getting wore out.


We do a lot of "around town" driving in this, should I be considering a non-clutch Flex-a-lite?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Can clutch fans randomly start making roaring noises, similar to the loud roaring at cold startup?

The other day, I was accelerating in 1st after making a left onto the highway. I heard the engine roaring, as if it were revving up. Instinctively I let off the accelerator, thinking the trans was slipping.

Did it a second time on a side road, accelerating, seemingly in 2nd gear....... so I pulled over and checked the trans fluid. It was full, and very clean.

Air temps were definitely in the mid-90s, and trans was definitely warm (185) but not overheating. I checked the trans temp with it still running (scan tool) when I got her home.


Since then I've had a hard time replicating the scenario. It did it a little today as I drove around the block, and it only did it a little. Engine gets noticeably louder.


The fact that it sounds a LOT like a cold-start roaring clutch fan makes me wonder if the clutch is getting wore out.


We do a lot of "around town" driving in this, should I be considering a non-clutch Flex-a-lite?

Sounds like the clutch is doing its job the way it should to me. My Express van in similar weather has a habit of engaging at 75+ mph on the highway. Going uphill with a trailer it spends alot of time engaged as well. I had the 34" wide Tahoe electric fans on it for a while and they could not keep it cool in hot weather pulling the trailer despite the 454/8.1 radiator I have in it.

With the Duramax fan it sounds like a medium duty truck when it is engaged.

Non clutch flex fan is going to be much worse for both cooling and sound.

 

[redfishsc]

Strange thing is, it's never done this before that I could notice. I do see what you are saying, it should be engaging as it warms up. Maybe that's what's happening, but the amount of noise I heard was more than I recall ever hearing it do driving around town.

 

[kennythewelder]

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[kennythewelder]

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[whiteboyslo]

Sounds like it's doing what it's supposed to. Hotter outside temps and running the AC will make it engage more often.

Mike

 

[df2x4]

Definitely don't go to a flex fan or otherwise eliminate the clutch. You will regret it.

I'd be a little concerned if you've never heard it before in similar conditions. Pay attention to it and if the noise persists I'd think about putting in a new fan clutch. They're pretty cheap anyway.

 

[Macfluke]

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wow... up to 30 horses!

@kennythewelder did you notice any difference with the e-fan install?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

wow... up to 30 horses!

@kennythewelder did you notice any difference with the e-fan install?

I find that very hard to believe considering I had a duramax fan fully engaged on a dyno run and only lost 15 ft/lbs of torque and 10 hp with it roaring like a medium duty truck.

 

[Macfluke]

I find that very hard to believe considering I had a duramax fan fully engaged on a dyno run and only lost 15 ft/lbs of torque and 10 hp with it roaring like a medium duty truck.

that's why I was asking Kenny about it to see what he thought... I myself probably wouldn't do it either way because I rarely put over 1500 miles a year on it... only a few things mechanically that I would upgrade, but for comfort I'll upgrade...


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