viscous fan

[Guest]

he guys does anyone know how to check your viscous fan?

[Guest]

get someone to turn the engine over whilst you hold the viscous.
it should give a little feeling of wanting to turn.
hold it for 5 seconds then let go and it should quickly speed up.

[E30Adam]

Thats the supidest thing I've ever heard, go ahead and hold it if you want to take your fingers off.

[Paul325i]

Best way is to warm up the engine fully, then roll up a news paper, keeping your hands well clear of the fan gently push the newspaper onto the fan. Only do this at idle!

If you can stop the fan then it's knackered, if it starts to shred the paper or is way to stiff to stop then it's fine.

[Simon]

I wouldn't advise holding the fan either, the fan on the touring gave up the ghost recently, and the bearings had jammed the viscous solid, if I had turned the engine while holding the fan in this situation (long arms ) then it would have probably taken my fingers off.

[Guest]

thanks guys! think I will stick with the news paper trick, kinda attached to my digits

[jahsean]

Hello
one mechanic diagnosed my faulty viscous coupling after noticing the temp gauge was reaching the halfway position. Having changed the coupling the engine is much cooler. the needle doesnt rise past the quarter on the scale. The whooshing noise can now be heard on start up in the mornings.

[Demlotcrew]

The temp should be on half way, your engine might not be warming up properly, which results in poor oil protection and increased fuel consumption.

Andrew

[Davenotouring]

My car recently went mad, and it was as if the viscous fan was locked.

It sounded like an old Volvo 240 but occasionally would let go and be normal (but it wouldn't shred a newspaper) maybe it needs replacing. Or maybe I'll put a 2.5 in.

[Demlotcrew]

Dude you need to sort out that alternator, Its going to drop out any day soon.

[Davenotouring]

I've tightened the belt as far as the alternator bracket allows! I'm gonna have to put a new engine in mate. I reckon it's the best way to fix alternator bushes!

[Jhonno]

My car recently went mad, and it was as if the viscous fan was locked.

It sounded like an old Volvo 240 but occasionally would let go and be normal (but it wouldn't shred a newspaper) maybe it needs replacing. Or maybe I'll put a 2.5 in.

*cough* 2.5

[Guest]

I have always used the shaft of a hammer.Warm engine, switch off stick in shaft get someone to start it. If it is goosed you will be able to spin it in the opposite direction of normal travel. Keeps fingers attached to wrist etc etc-better this way as I need one hand for beer and the other for smoke!

[Guest]

I have always used the shaft of a hammer.Warm engine, switch off stick in shaft get someone to start it. If it is goosed you will be able to spin it in the opposite direction of normal travel. Keeps fingers attached to wrist etc etc-better this way as I need one hand for beer and the other for smoke!

[jmc330i]

I'm gonna have to put a new engine in mate. I reckon it's the best way to fix alternator bushes!

Thats my theory too
Clutch release bearing went on mine, the only possible solution I could think of was an engine conversion. lol

Another way to check the fan, without the risk to fingers, is to warm the engine up and then with the engine turned off, try to turn the fan. There should be quite a bit of resistence, if the fan turns easy then its knackered.

[Simon]

My car recently went mad, and it was as if the viscous fan was locked.

It sounded like an old Volvo 240 but occasionally would let go and be normal (but it wouldn't shred a newspaper) maybe it needs replacing. Or maybe I'll put a 2.5 in.

That's exactly what happened to mine, now and again it would lock and turn at engine speed despite the temp being low, and it would occasionally let go, I took it off and there was bits of tangled metal and bearings everywhere!

[Davenotouring]

It's really weird!

But I got angry and drifted round a roundabout and booted it off, the fan spun up really fast, then it dropped off the lock so to speak and was ok!!

I want 2.5 litres!

[Simon]

It's really weird!

But I got angry and drifted round a roundabout and booted it off, the fan spun up really fast, then it dropped off the lock so to speak and was ok!!

I want 2.5 litres!

I want 3.2 litres and 24 valves!!

[Davenotouring]

So do I mate, but my student loan won't stretch that far. I finish in June though, then I should have some money!

You're gonna be running too e30's, one M3!!! And modifying a touring to have an e36 m3 evo engine?!!! Have you won the lottery!??

A 2.5 will have to do for me now. Student loan will cover it, just about!!!

[Simon]

So do I mate, but my student loan won't stretch that far. I finish in June though, then I should have some money!

You're gonna be running too e30's, one M3!!! And modifying a touring to have an e36 m3 evo engine?!!! Have you won the lottery!??

A 2.5 will have to do for me now. Student loan will cover it, just about!!!

That's my plan anyway, don't know when it will happen though!

[Davenotouring]

Hope it does mate.

Good luck.

And I hope I have a similar conversion sometime!

I want to see your M3 and have a ride in it!!

Come to the Stevenage meet! I'm sure you don't need an excuse to drive it, but there's a good one!

[Simon]

All these meets!!! I hope to make quite a few this year!!

[jahsean]

message for demlot crew.
U were right the engine wasnt warming up properly. I have changed the thermostat but it still not warming up. My next step is to get the radiator flow tested. Thanks
peace