Just realized how much a good fan clutch changes engine temps

I did a water pump and fan clutch on a 2014 Freightliner Cascadia last month. Before the swap, that thing was running 210-215 degrees even on a cool day. After I put in a thermal fan clutch from Horton, it dropped to 185 and stayed there through a full load haul. The old clutch was slipping bad and didn't pull air through the radiator. Has anyone else seen a 30 degree drop just from a fan clutch replacement?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_dixon674d ago

Wow that's a hell of a difference, must have been a relief seeing those temps drop like that. Did you notice any change in fuel economy after the swap?

the_eva3d ago

honestly, I'd say don't get too excited about the temps or the fuel economy. I've been running a similar setup for about two years now, and honestly my gas mileage didn't change at all. It's still the same 18mpg city, maybe 22 on the highway if I'm lucky. The temp drop is nice and all, but that's just a side effect of the water pump pushing more fluid, not some magic fix. People get caught up in the hype and expect their truck to suddenly get 30mpg, which just isn't realistic. In my experience, you're better off tweaking your driving habits if you want to save fuel, not swapping parts. Take it from someone who's been down that road, your mileage really will vary here.