Anybody Removed Their Radiator Fans?

fasteddie · 03-17-2009, 05:20 PM

there's one mr2 owner from the U.K. who recommends that the radiator fans be removed because the climate temperatures there don't get very hot (see link and quote below)

i'm doing my 87 to be a street legal track car in northern california with just occasional street use. temperatures here are pretty mild year round; i've already removed my a/c system; do you think i can get away with removing the fans? sure would remove some more weight.

anybody removed theirs? and if so, did you ever have any cooling problems?

link: repairsp81

quote: REASONS – The a/c installation may be an essential aid to driver comfort in many countries, but the British climate simply does not require it. The weight of the a/c is a considerable 36lb and the compressor absorbs up to xbhp from the engine. Also I recommend removal of the radiator fans – see note below.

* For typical UK weather I have found that this is unnecessary and I remove it all together. Air flow through the radiator is actually improved, as it will also be after removing the h/e which partially blocks airflow. The weight of this assembly is xxlb.

Redfox · 03-17-2009, 05:42 PM

I have done a hole cooling system fix on my mr2 Don't remove your fans it will over heat your engine!!! I live in california. If you what to go faster save up for a new engine with more horses + removing the fans won't change anything.

328FTW · 03-18-2009, 05:26 PM

Removing the fans is totally impractical. You can't stay still for long periods no matter what the temperature without fans. They don't weigh much either plus they are front weight which is not a bad thing on the 2. You would be surprised how fast an engine gets hot without fans, they do shift a lot of air.

Besides if you are worried about airflow do something about the massive front air dam that is the front wall of the frunk. Removing the fans would just mean the front frunk wall is catching more air and swirling it around.

jus7o · 04-24-2009, 12:46 PM

i removed my fans last weekend and guess what ? broke all four head bolts!!!!!! hopefully the radiator shop i take my radiator to can tap those bad boys out! should have known and used pb buster...

Sylvan · 04-24-2009, 12:51 PM

You can probably get away with removing the fans if the car will not see any street use. While you're driving at speed, the airflow through the radiator might be sufficient. But for any kind of stop and go driving, or idling at stoplights, In'n'Out drive-throughs, you'll be hosed.

Edit: I take no responsibility if you mess up your car.

muffinman · 04-24-2009, 01:21 PM

just don't follow too close to other cars on the track and you should be just fine.

issymr2 · 04-24-2009, 02:30 PM

i say dont remove them and plus they only weigh like 5lbs

lsgheero · 04-24-2009, 02:45 PM

Please do not remove your fans.... very dumb idea, and as mentioned the weight savings is not worth it. Now removing AC system is fine.

jus7o · 04-24-2009, 10:05 PM

just wanted to be clear i didn't remove my fans with intentions of keeping them permanently removed. although this would be good idea if you intend on purposely over heating your car.

Jackstand Queen · 04-24-2009, 11:29 PM

Gee i wonder what will happen if I stick an Ice Pick in my eye?

Hey guys do you think I ought to do it?

Same kind of question as the original post. Just different wording.

Spinnetti · 04-25-2009, 02:50 PM

Hhahahhhhahha!

Not only did I remove the A/C fan, but the main fan, and the engine bay fan... That's right, zero fans. Not only that, but also put a 20v in it. NEVER went above normal temps. I DID however, have louvers in the engine deck lid (Modded SC deck lid). I sold it to a guy in Texas, and he said he never had any trouble with cooling either. I did it to save weight as the car was as light as possible for a street car. Your mileage may vary. Easy way to check instead of listening to people on the internet, its to start unplugging them and see what happens. If it starts to run higher temps, then you know your car can't do it at least. If it doesn't get hot over your normal conditions, yank em out. The MR2 is unique in that it carries a lot of coolant, and the big pipes from the radiator to the engine are great heat sinks. Give it a whirl and see what happens. Easy to reverse, and then you'll know. (this presumes your radiator and cooling system is in good shape and the coolant gets flushed and refilled at the right mix periodically)

PS,

I also road race, and my AE86 road racer? that's right. No fans. Zip, none, nada. I run the pi$$ out of it in as much as 100 degree temps on track with no problems.... I do have problems if I'm just sitting there on the grid, so I keep it off unless I'm going... On the street though, I'd prolly need fans on this one

LokiRx7 · 07-21-2009, 12:59 AM

Yeah I dont run front fans because they currently dont run (Bad relay) and I havent overheated in about six months of driving. That includes stop and go traffic on the interstate.

I still have the engine bay fan on the side vent. The car actually runs at around 1/4 of the temp gauge most of the time.

Why have I let it go this long.......... I dont have a good answer, mostly because I havent found an MR2 in the junkyard recently. And I know that brand new a relay is probably a fortune. And since it isnt actually overheating its not at the forefront of my mind.

EDIT ::

Ill have to concur with the person above. The long coolant pipes + the radiator probably goes a long way to cool the car. As far as it setting... Well that is really what the engine bay fan is for. On top of that, the MR2 engine doesnt have a hot radiator sitting in front of it either. Probably keeps the underhood temps fairly low.

Raptor13x · 07-21-2009, 01:27 AM

If you don't have AC, you only need 1 fan. The second fan is totally useless unless you want to idle in death valley during a heatwave for 3 hours. If you live in an area that's not too hot and you don't get stuck in traffic very often, you could get away with no fan. I run with one aftermarket fan on my 20v, and that's plenty of cooling. Plus, it's a hell of a lot lighter than the stupidly heavy steel fan shroud.

My mkii turbo on the other hand overheated very quickly when sitting in traffic, while I had my fan disconnected.

MR JAS · 07-21-2009, 02:24 AM

i wouldnt remove them under any circumsdtances on a race car the engine runs hot while your driving ( collent may stay normal but everything attached to it heats up a lot exhaust especially you will be fine on track but as soon as you stop it will boil and break your engine to cool a hot engine you have to do at least 20kph
so you choices are save a tiny amount of weight and drive around after every race for 20mins trying to cool it
or keep that bit of weight and keep the engine

p.s. if you are that worried about the weight get an old merc or audi fan they are allplastic and weigh next to nothing

LokiRx7 · 07-21-2009, 02:46 AM

Just to clarify, I wasnt justifying removing the fan. I was just saying that doing so might not cause the world to end as so many are quick to point out.

I like my car to be liveable since it is a daily driver. The only weight saving thing I have done is remove the A/C. It didnt work, and it needed converted to R134, and I dont hardly use it anyway. So why leave dead weight hanging around, but I saved everything just in case.

Besides do you know how much easier it is to get to the back side of the engine without an A/C compressor!??

03-17-2009, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
fasteddie No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Anybody Removed Their Radiator Fans? there's one mr2 owner from the U.K. who recommends that the radiator fans be removed because the climate temperatures there don't get very hot (see link and quote below) i'm doing my 87 to be a street legal track car in northern california with just occasional street use. temperatures here are pretty mild year round; i've already removed my a/c system; do you think i can get away with removing the fans? sure would remove some more weight. anybody removed theirs? and if so, did you ever have any cooling problems? link: repairsp81 quote: REASONS – The a/c installation may be an essential aid to driver comfort in many countries, but the British climate simply does not require it. The weight of the a/c is a considerable 36lb and the compressor absorbs up to xbhp from the engine. Also I recommend removal of the radiator fans – see note below. * For typical UK weather I have found that this is unnecessary and I remove it all together. Air flow through the radiator is actually improved, as it will also be after removing the h/e which partially blocks airflow. The weight of this assembly is xxlb.

03-17-2009, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Redfox Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bakersfield CA Posts: 220 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I have done a hole cooling system fix on my mr2 Don't remove your fans it will over heat your engine!!! I live in california. If you what to go faster save up for a new engine with more horses + removing the fans won't change anything. Last edited by Redfox; 03-17-2009 at 05:52 PM.

04-24-2009, 11:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Sticking Ice Pick in own Eye Gee i wonder what will happen if I stick an Ice Pick in my eye? Hey guys do you think I ought to do it? Same kind of question as the original post. Just different wording.

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03-18-2009, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
328FTW Can you say grippy? Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,513 Thanks: 12 Thanked 99 Times in 83 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Removing the fans is totally impractical. You can't stay still for long periods no matter what the temperature without fans. They don't weigh much either plus they are front weight which is not a bad thing on the 2. You would be surprised how fast an engine gets hot without fans, they do shift a lot of air. Besides if you are worried about airflow do something about the massive front air dam that is the front wall of the frunk. Removing the fans would just mean the front frunk wall is catching more air and swirling it around.

04-24-2009, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
jus7o D I Y Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 143 Thanks: 16 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	i removed my fans last weekend and guess what ? broke all four head bolts!!!!!! hopefully the radiator shop i take my radiator to can tap those bad boys out! should have known and used pb buster...

04-24-2009, 12:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sylvan Bad Dude Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 767 Thanks: 19 Thanked 31 Times in 28 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	You can probably get away with removing the fans if the car will not see any street use. While you're driving at speed, the airflow through the radiator might be sufficient. But for any kind of stop and go driving, or idling at stoplights, In'n'Out drive-throughs, you'll be hosed. Edit: I take no responsibility if you mess up your car.

04-24-2009, 01:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
muffinman Brain Surgeon Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,752 Thanks: 24 Thanked 100 Times in 98 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	just don't follow too close to other cars on the track and you should be just fine.

04-24-2009, 02:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
issymr2 Detailing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Issaquah WA Posts: 209 Thanks: 32 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	i say dont remove them and plus they only weigh like 5lbs

04-24-2009, 02:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
lsgheero RAR! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 605 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Please do not remove your fans.... very dumb idea, and as mentioned the weight savings is not worth it. Now removing AC system is fine.

04-24-2009, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
jus7o D I Y Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 143 Thanks: 16 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	just wanted to be clear i didn't remove my fans with intentions of keeping them permanently removed. although this would be good idea if you intend on purposely over heating your car.

04-25-2009, 02:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Spinnetti No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Hhahahhhhahha! Not only did I remove the A/C fan, but the main fan, and the engine bay fan... That's right, zero fans. Not only that, but also put a 20v in it. NEVER went above normal temps. I DID however, have louvers in the engine deck lid (Modded SC deck lid). I sold it to a guy in Texas, and he said he never had any trouble with cooling either. I did it to save weight as the car was as light as possible for a street car. Your mileage may vary. Easy way to check instead of listening to people on the internet, its to start unplugging them and see what happens. If it starts to run higher temps, then you know your car can't do it at least. If it doesn't get hot over your normal conditions, yank em out. The MR2 is unique in that it carries a lot of coolant, and the big pipes from the radiator to the engine are great heat sinks. Give it a whirl and see what happens. Easy to reverse, and then you'll know. (this presumes your radiator and cooling system is in good shape and the coolant gets flushed and refilled at the right mix periodically) PS, I also road race, and my AE86 road racer? that's right. No fans. Zip, none, nada. I run the pi$$ out of it in as much as 100 degree temps on track with no problems.... I do have problems if I'm just sitting there on the grid, so I keep it off unless I'm going... On the street though, I'd prolly need fans on this one

07-21-2009, 12:59 AM	#12 (permalink)
LokiRx7 MR2 + Flat Black = FAIL Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.C. Ohio Posts: 297 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Yeah I dont run front fans because they currently dont run (Bad relay) and I havent overheated in about six months of driving. That includes stop and go traffic on the interstate. I still have the engine bay fan on the side vent. The car actually runs at around 1/4 of the temp gauge most of the time. Why have I let it go this long.......... I dont have a good answer, mostly because I havent found an MR2 in the junkyard recently. And I know that brand new a relay is probably a fortune. And since it isnt actually overheating its not at the forefront of my mind. EDIT :: Ill have to concur with the person above. The long coolant pipes + the radiator probably goes a long way to cool the car. As far as it setting... Well that is really what the engine bay fan is for. On top of that, the MR2 engine doesnt have a hot radiator sitting in front of it either. Probably keeps the underhood temps fairly low.

07-21-2009, 01:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
Raptor13x Legendary Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 3,987 Thanks: 7 Thanked 40 Times in 34 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	If you don't have AC, you only need 1 fan. The second fan is totally useless unless you want to idle in death valley during a heatwave for 3 hours. If you live in an area that's not too hot and you don't get stuck in traffic very often, you could get away with no fan. I run with one aftermarket fan on my 20v, and that's plenty of cooling. Plus, it's a hell of a lot lighter than the stupidly heavy steel fan shroud. My mkii turbo on the other hand overheated very quickly when sitting in traffic, while I had my fan disconnected.

07-21-2009, 02:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
MR JAS Always blow on the pie Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: hamilton new zealand Posts: 337 Thanks: 7 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	i wouldnt remove them under any circumsdtances on a race car the engine runs hot while your driving ( collent may stay normal but everything attached to it heats up a lot exhaust especially you will be fine on track but as soon as you stop it will boil and break your engine to cool a hot engine you have to do at least 20kph so you choices are save a tiny amount of weight and drive around after every race for 20mins trying to cool it or keep that bit of weight and keep the engine p.s. if you are that worried about the weight get an old merc or audi fan they are allplastic and weigh next to nothing

07-21-2009, 02:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
LokiRx7 MR2 + Flat Black = FAIL Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.C. Ohio Posts: 297 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Just to clarify, I wasnt justifying removing the fan. I was just saying that doing so might not cause the world to end as so many are quick to point out. I like my car to be liveable since it is a daily driver. The only weight saving thing I have done is remove the A/C. It didnt work, and it needed converted to R134, and I dont hardly use it anyway. So why leave dead weight hanging around, but I saved everything just in case. Besides do you know how much easier it is to get to the back side of the engine without an A/C compressor!??