[Bremer]

Hi,
I am planning to replace the mechanical fan on my 98 four banger with an electric one. I am not very fond of the controllers that use a probe that get wedged inbetween radiator fins. If need be, I would fab up something to tee into the rad hose so I can use a thread-in probe, but perhaps there is already an unused port somewhere in the cooling circuit? If so, where is it, and what size and type thread is it?
Any input appreciated.

 

[Q451990]

I don't know the answer to your question - but I have seen controllers that piggyback onto the factory sensor and read their output instead. Might be the easiest way to go.

Heath

 

[dubie2003]

You probably already know this but you want your temp to be taken just before it enters the block. Because of this, there is no un-used sensor location. They do make adapters that you splice into your upper radiator hose in which you can screw in a sensor. You just have to measure your upper hoses inner diameter so you order the correct adapter.

Side Note: You can also do what Beef did and just jamb the probe into the upper radiator hose and use some RTV to seal it up, lol. He says it has worked fine but idk, its only a temperary thing in my mind.

 

[1fstmax]

no... there isn't.. i had a pice of aluminum pipe same size as the upper rad hose tapped for the fitting of my fan controller.

 

[Bremer]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It confirms that I will need to modify a hose joiner with a sensor bung.
Dubie, I remember seeing the sensors installed in the radiator inlet, i.e. engine outlet. There's pros and cons to either, could you elaborate why the engine inlet temperature should control the fan?

 

[dubie2003]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It confirms that I will need to modify a hose joiner with a sensor bung.
Dubie, I remember seeing the sensors installed in the radiator inlet, i.e. engine outlet. There's pros and cons to either, could you elaborate why the engine inlet temperature should control the fan?

You want to make sure the coolant is entering the motor at a specific temp, not exactly exiting it.

Its hard to predict exactly how much cooling your radiator will provide especially if you are sitting still in traffic compared to haulin on the interstate.

If put put the sensor low, you would have to jack up the temp so that it turns on around 200ish or so instead of the 170-180 range.