Which way is most efficient for your cooling fan?

I currently have mine set up as a pusher(i.e. in front of the radiator), would it work better as a puller(on the engine side of the radiator)? Thanx.

 

I would be curious what other people say about this as well.


I would imagine a puller with a fan shroud would be the most efficient. But a pusher seems to work well also,.. especially when space is restrictive between the motor and the radiator.

Hurst

 

I have the space for an electric fan both in front and behind. If it's an electric fan, I don't think you need a shroud though as the fan body has one built into it.

 

IMO a puller is way more efficient.

 

Most fans will specify

 

OK, to help visualize....think of the air molecules as a length of anchor chain. Now, visualize a a thruhull (hole) at the bow of your boat. Your task is to get that length of chain through the hole and into the water. Which is going to work better, dropping the anchor and letting it pull the chain through? Or maybe it would be more efficient if you picked up the last link in the chain and tried to push the chain through the hole. Whacha tink, Mon?

Same thing with the air through a radiator...ot trying to herd a chicken.

 

not really the same. An electric fan has a shroud around it. a pusher will pressureize the area between the fan blades and the front of the radiator. this forces the air through the fins. since it has a shroud the air has no where to go except through the radiator.

with a puler it works in reverse. it creates a vcacuum between the blades and the radiator drawing air through the radiator.

if you run a pusher fan you need to make sure that the fan is reversible (if you use a puller the blade design might be very inefficent when used as a pusher and vice versa) or get a fan that was designed as a pusher.

im using both on my car. im using a 20" electric puller off a crown vic along with a small 10" pusher off a toyota

 

That's what I like about this place --- simple questions sometimes stir up valued answers.

Considering most vehicles are traveling and the air is passing toward the motor, I feel enhancing this air volume/flow is most efficient with the puller - no fan assembly at front to block air flow.

On the other hand, a stationary scenario might lead one to conclude the pusher will do fine, though... it may be drawing engine compartment temps higher than exterior ambient levels through the radiator slowing the cooling process.

Each location choice, is influenced by the static ambient temperture at the radiator front fins. Comparitve results may not prove to be that significant so .............

Where the hecks that cooool red-haired chick from Myth Busters when you need her?

 

Looks like I'm changing the location of my fan then.

 

You need to check the orientation of the fan blades. If its set up as a pusher it will push air in the wrong direction. I prefer pullers as they a little more efficient than pushers..