Can I Swap My Fan Clutch for a Unit That Engages at a Lower Temperature to Help My Car Run Cooler
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Question:
I have one of these fan clutches US motor works pn 22022, with marks on it as follows: 032007 - 176. Is the 176 a reference to temperature. Can you tell me anything about the temperature characteristics of this clutch, and can you advise if you have an identical physical clutch that operates at say 15 degrees F lower temps? Many Thanks
asked by: Jim
Expert Reply:
The Derale Clutch, part # D22022 will be a direct replacement for your fan clutch. All the clutches distributed and sold here in the U.S. follow a standard engage and disengage temperature. They engage at 180 degrees farenheit, and disengage at 170 degrees. I do not know if the 176 figure in your numbers indicate temperature or not. The clutch still has an engage at 180 and disengage at 170 and there are not clutches available, unless custom made by a machine shop, that will have different temperature points.
The temperature points that the clutch uses are the engine bay temperature, not the temperature of the engine itself. If your engine is running hotter than what you want, you can change the thermostat. The thermostat works as a valve that does not let the engine coolant flow into the radiator until it reaches a certain temperature. Swapping the thermostat for a lower temperature unit will allow the water to flow into the radiator at a lower temperature.
You could also switch to an electric set-up that activates the fans based on coolant temperature rather than ambient engine bay temperature. They use fittings with temperature sensitive switches that will activate your fan, like part # D35020.
