What does a radiator fan do?

The radiator fan motor is essential in maintaining the proper operating temperature of a vehicle's engine and keeping it running smoothly. The engine fan, or fan motor, is a system that delivers air to the engine's radiator. It consists of an electric motor and a fan.

What does a fan do?

A motorized radiator fan is an electric motor that drives a cooling fan located behind or in front of the radiator in the engine compartment of a vehicle. The primary function of the radiator fan motor is to help regulate engine temperature by drawing air through the radiator to dissipate heat.

When a vehicle's engine is running, it generates heat. The radiator helps cool the engine by circulating coolant through its passages. However, when the car is not running, no air is circulating through the radiator to cool the coolant. This is where the radiator fan motor comes in. It draws air through the radiator to dissipate heat, even when the car isn't moving.

The radiator fan motor is usually controlled by a thermostatic switch or computerized engine control system that turns the fan on and off based on coolant temperature. When the coolant temperature exceeds a certain level, the switch or control system activates the fan motor to begin drawing air through the radiator.

What type of electric motor should I choose for my fan?

Choosing the right fan motor is essential to ensuring that your cooling system runs smoothly. There are two types of fans:

• Axial or helical fans
• Radial or centrifugal fans

5 Symptoms of a faulty radiator fan

Motor Overheating

The radiator fan is designed to turn on automatically when the coolant temperature reaches a certain point, usually around 200°F (93°C). If the fan doesn't turn on, the coolant can't circulate properly and dissipate heat from the engine. This can cause the engine to overheat, damage the cylinder head gasket, deform the cylinder head, or even melt the pistons.

Air conditioning not working

The radiator fan also helps cool the condenser, which is part of the air conditioning (AC) system that converts refrigerant from a gas to a liquid state. If the fan isn't working, the condenser can't release the heat from the refrigerant, and the A/C will blow hot air instead of cold.

Temperature warning light

This light indicates that your engine is overheating and that you should stop driving as soon as possible. The temperature warning light can illuminate due to a faulty radiator fan or other cooling system problems, such as a low coolant level, a blocked thermostat, or a blocked radiator.

Hot coolant

Coolant should be hot when it leaves the engine, but it should cool as it passes through the radiator. If your radiator fan isn't working, the coolant can't lose enough heat and remains hot after it reaches the reservoir.

Loud fan noise

This noise can be caused by worn bearings, loose blades, or debris caught in the fan guard. The noise may get louder when you increase your engine speed or turn on your air conditioner.

When should you change your engine cooling fan?

The car fan is responsible for injecting coolant into your engine to absorb heat and dissipate it through the car's radiator.

It's possible that your car's fan doesn't turn on when it's supposed to, or that your car's fan is running all the time. In this case, one of the fan blades may be damaged, the electric motor is malfunctioning, or in the case of a mechanical fan, the clutch system is malfunctioning.