Here are the numbers: 1250 EGT full throttle, 55 mph, up a bridge(no hills here), pulling my other toy, a little gray smoke, plenty power. Here is the concern, my engine coolant temp gauge moved to the right, a lot. I have not seen it this far before. It moved into the last third of the normal range and I feel like it would have kept going. Even after getting back on flat ground. It did not boil over nor did I see signs of overheating. Backed down to 45 and it dropped a little. Dropped out of overdrive and no effect. I have been told that when the fan clutch hub engages I should hear a big difference in fan noise which makes since after looking at the fan. I don't hear it but when I looked under the hood I felt like it was working. Air temp was 95. The water pump was changed by the previous owner along with the belt. Am I just a worry wart or is this a potential expense?

 

The fan will spin even if the clutch doesn't work. The clutch is a viscous coupling that gets locked by a thermostatic coil. If the coil no longer works, the clutch won't lock up, but the fan will still turn with the engine but at a lower speed. You will hear the fan when it kicks in.

 

I was afraid that you would say that. The local parts merchants really love them. They know they got you on the price of hubs. Beats the cost of an overhaul. THanks, I"ll order one today.

 

Back in my previous life, year 8 BD(before Dodge), I owned a Ford F 150. It needed a fan clutch. So trusting my friends at NAPA I paid $175.00 for a new severe duty hub. I naturally ASSumed that the cost of a similar item for a diesel would be astronomical. Boy am I pleasently surprised. Hayden Severe Duty p/n 2798............$67.93 plus tax @ Advance Auto. All that whining I did was for nothing. I have been in a few owners groups before but not like this one. So far this has been the most helpful and curtious site that I have seen. I hope that I can be a benefit to some and a good laugh to others. Keep up the good work. Check out my clumsy attempt to post pictures.

 

Replaced the fan clutch with a Hayden Severe Duty part no. 2798. I can hear the fan now. Anyone got ear pluds Eng. temp dropped , noise went up and my a/c works again. Funny what a few thousnd cfm can do. Thanks again!

 

It doesn't run all the time now, does it?

 

Yeah, there's no doubt about when that fan kicks in.