Question: Could this be a bad fan clutch?

[Tim81]

Hi Everyone,

I had the car out on the highway today and noticed the coolant temp was up around 220 F. It didn't go any higher then that and when I got the car back on regular roads the temp came down to just under 200 F. which is where it always runs in the city. The air temp today was 85 F. and when I parked the car the coolant temp was above 200 F. and I could spin the fan blades (with the engine off) rather easily. Do you think the cooling fan clutch is bad?
P.S. New Radiator and water pump, 180 degree stat.
Thanks Tim

 

[6880 Mike]

Start the engine. Let it run a bit. Turn the engine off. If the fan continues to spin more than three or four revolutions after the engine has shut down, the clutch is bad.

 

[Hib Halverson]

The fan contributes nothing to cooling once vehicle speed gets over 30 mph or so.

If your engine is running hot at highway speeds, the root cause is not the fan clutch.

Make sure the front air dam is intact.
Make sure any sponge-rubber used to prevent air flow from bypassing the radiator are in place.
Make sure cooling passages in the engine are not restricted.
Make sure the new water pump, radiator and thermostat are not defective.

 

[Tim81]

The fan contributes nothing to cooling once vehicle speed gets over 30 mph or so.

If your engine is running hot at highway speeds, the root cause is not the fan clutch.

Make sure the front air dam is intact.
Make sure any sponge-rubber used to prevent air flow from bypassing the radiator are in place.
Make sure cooling passages in the engine are not restricted.
Make sure the new water pump, radiator and thermostat are not defective.

Hib,

Are you saying that after 30+ MPH one could eliminate the fan completely and the car shouldn't overheat? Thanks for your input.

 

[bill81vette]

yes,the fan is not needed after 30MPH!!!

 

[Hib Halverson]

Hib,

Are you saying that after 30+ MPH one could eliminate the fan completely and the car shouldn't overheat?

Yes.

Thanks for your input.

You're welcome.
Glad to be of service.