What does a fan clutch do, anyway? You're not alone. The fan clutch is an important portion of a vehicle's cooling system. It helps regulate the temperature of the engine so that everything can function correctly. The right operating temperature for an engine is critical to keeping a vehicle running well and running long and to do so there are systems in place to manage heat. Let’s take a closer look at what a fan clutch does and why its health is so crucial to your car's well being.
What is a Fan Clutch?
A fan clutch is a special component that attaches to the cooling fan of an engine. The cooling fan cools the, well, engine when it gets too hot. Fan Clutch are designed to govern the speed of the fan. It does this by keeping an eye on how hot the engine is running. It will speed up the fan when the engine is HOT to cool it down. So this is critical because if excessively hot, the engine can cause issues. However, at cool temperatures, the engine's pump directs fluid to the fan, allowing the fan to spin slowly to save energy and reduce noise.
How Does it Work?
The fan clutch uses special fluid that is internally contained within the fan clutch itself. Well, that fluid is very critical to how the fan clutch works. As the engine heats up, the fan clutch fluid expands (gets bigger). This allows the fan clutch to engage, instructing the fan to spin faster. In order to quickly cool down the engine and thus avoid overheating, we make the fan spin faster. When the engine cools, the fluid in the fan clutch contracts (thereby getting smaller). In such a case, fan clutch disengages, and the fan can reduce its speed. This procedure maintains the engine at an optimal temperature and functionality.
What is the Importance of a Working Fan Clutch?
The fan clutch turns on or off for the fan to turn on or off which helps the car to maintain the right engine temperature. If there is a problem with the fan clutch, the engine can overheat. This prevents the heat generated from your operations to cool down properly which can cause severe damage and can be quite expensive to fix. Car owners need to monitor their fan clutch and have it inspected regularly. Just as you check for the checks a doctor may find during check-ups, check for your car check-ups. Routine inspections can help finding problems fast before they become huge problems.
Check to See if Your Fan Clutch Is Failing
Here are some indications that your fan clutch may not be functioning as it should. One indication is a loud roaring engine noise when it is running hot. This could also mean your fan clutch is seizing open, and that would cause your fan to spin too fast. A further indication to look for will be if the car motor overheats during normal speed driving. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is very important to have the fan clutch inspected by a professional mechanic. They can diagnose the issue and recommend the best course of action.
