I have just put a deposit on a e30.
im new to these so please help me .
is my radiotor fan engine driven as ave been told.
as ive notised the fan stayes on all the time the engine is running.
the car is a 318 1990 with 110k
thanks
kieran
is my fan engine driven
Moderator: martauto
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beemerbird
- Married to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 8620
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Sounds normal to me.....
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
The fan is driven directly from the engine, but there is a temperature activated 'clutch' between them.
Under normal conditions, the fan turns, but is just "freewheeling". When the radiator temperature rises to near the engine working temperature, the 'clutch' engages and the fan speeds up.
Under normal conditions, the fan turns, but is just "freewheeling". When the radiator temperature rises to near the engine working temperature, the 'clutch' engages and the fan speeds up.
The E30 has a mechanical fan, it is designed not to run all the time by using a clutch which grips and causes the fan to rotate when temperature rises. Main problem with mechanical fan is that the clutch leaks and stops working as it should, resulting in engine temp rising in hot conditions, e.g. when in slow moving/stationary traffic.


