Radiator Cooling Fan

Robert Scarlett · Post by **Robert Scarlett** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:00 pm

I would like to replace my original 2 blade radiator cooling fan.

I have a newly re-cored copper uprated radiator.

I have seen the Kenlowe kit at SNG Barratts for ?204 has anyone got experience of this kit or any other fan kit that is available. would it be ok on a positive earth car?

All ideas/thoughts welcome.

Thanks

Robert.

Dave K · Post by **Dave K** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:39 pm

Robert,

If you have +ve earth then I would go for the Coolcat, I would go for the Coolcat fan if I had -ve earth to be honest.

The Kenlowe is a hideous looking item that has a thermocouple that goes inside the radiator cooling hose and is prone to weeping.
The Coolcat fits in place of the original, works with +ve earth no problem and because you are running with a generator pulls far less amps. 2 to 3 amps against 7 or 8 for the Kenlowe.

The Kenlowe has to be secured with cable ties against the rad and over time this can fret against the rad cores causing a leak.
Lots of cons against the Kenlowe and only pluses for the Coolcat, another plus is the Coolcat is a lot cheaper.

Dave

tim wood · Post by **tim wood** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:07 am

I had a small kenlow attached to my rad with cable ties. Fearing the worst I went to Northampton Auto Rads who replaced with a 16 inch unit fixed with brackets soldered onto the radiator frame and also inserted a boss for a modern switch unit. They also tested the rad and provided the switch. All for ?160.
Very happy.
Tim

kingzetts · Post by **kingzetts** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:42 am

On my 3.8 I fitted the unit from Watjag which comes with an aluminium shroud to totally enclose the rear of the radiator. It was a bit fiddly to fit as the shroud did not perfectly match the radiator and the mounting points needed some adjustment, but it works well and looks good IMHO.

I did have one issue, though. The picture I saw before I ordered had a solid aluminium shroud. The one which arrived had a number of large slots cut in the aluminium. When I asked they said they'd done this at the request of some customers who wanted holes to allow air flow through the shroud with the fan off.

Now you often see modern cars with shrouded fans which have one-way flaps in the shroud, to allow ram air flow through the shroud but which prevent the fan suckiing hot air back through the shroud instead of through the matrix. So I was suspicious of having slots with no flaps.

I tested it with the radiator out of the car using smoke to visualise the ar flow. Sure enough air was being recirculated back through the holes. So I blanked the holes off. The car ran very happily like this down to Italy and back last summer including some standing in heavy traffic in the heat on the Mont Blanc tunnel approaches.

I could probably have fitted rubber flaps secured at one edge to act as one-way flaps, I believe the S3 V12s may have had something similar.

daverawle · Post by **daverawle** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:27 am

kingzetts wrote:On my 3.8 I fitted the unit from Watjag which comes with an aluminium shroud to totally enclose the rear of the radiator. It was a bit fiddly to fit as the shroud did not perfectly match the radiator and the mounting points needed some adjustment, but it works well and looks good IMHO.

Also fitted the WatJag one and very pleased with it - mine was before the extra holes idea. I guess they would supply one without the holes if asked. Hate the thought of securing the fan to the rad core a la Kenlowe
Dave

Robert Scarlett · Post by **Robert Scarlett** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:38 am

Thank you all for your comments they are all very helpful.

I do like the look of the CoolCat fan, I have just searched it on Google to buy one and can only find it in the USA, does anyone know of a Uk outlet?

I don't mind buying from America but would prefer to support a UK business if possible.

Thanks again for your help.

Robert.

Post by **Heuer** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:39 am

I have a Kenlowe fan which I installed (with the recommended cable ties) in a French Hotel car park in 2001. After 36,000 miles it is still going strong and is hugely effective in traffic and high ambient temperatures - especially being stuck in slow moving traffic through Biarritz at 41c in the shade! I do like the variable temperature control of the Kenlowe as it means you can tweak it to match your style of driving and location. No personal view on the looks, it is just a fan and it works. If you go with Coolcat you might want to consider an electronic fan controller: http://www.cambridgemotorsport.com/Cool ... ontrollers

Post by **1954Etype** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:57 am

Robert Scarlett wrote:Thank you all for your comments they are all very helpful.

I do like the look of the CoolCat fan, I have just searched it on Google to buy one and can only find it in the USA, does anyone know of a Uk outlet?

I don't mind buying from America but would prefer to support a UK business if possible.

Thanks again for your help.

Robert.

I think Ken Verity stocks the coolcat. I have one and am really pleased with it.

Post by **Heuer** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:04 pm

Angus

Have you fitted an electronic control unit?

Post by **1954Etype** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:30 pm

David, no I haven't. Just the switch that comes with the Cambs MS header. Where are they available?

Post by **Heuer** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:16 pm

Same place as you bought your header!
http://www.cambridgemotorsport.com/Cool ... ontrollers
They are a better proposition than the standard type and the Kenlowe which has a capillary tube that clamps into one of the rad pipes. If I had to do it again I would use one of the CMS ones; big advantage is you can set the fan action to come on exactly where you want and have the control in the cockpit if you so desire.

Series 1 · Post by **Series 1** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:12 am

Just returned from Classic Le Mans. My first proper drive after 18 month complete rebuild. Apart from few oil leaks (5 litres) which I mostly sorted en route the car ran brilliantly. Weather wasn't exactly as expected, the first wet Classic in it's 10 years but my temp was never above 72˚C. I have a new Coolcat fan running on an otter switch (I also have a manual switch just in case). Very pleased with it and it looks better than the Kenlowe I replaced. It's also quieter. 10/10 from me, I also bought it from Ken Verity.

I have my old fully working Kenlow fan with thermostat and powdercoated silver bracket if anyone's interested.

265bhp · Post by **265bhp** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:53 pm

Hi all

Pardon my ignorance but can someone give me the contact details for Ken Verity, I would like to investigate the Cool Cat fan also

Thanks
Jonathan

Post by **1954Etype** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:04 pm

Google found this:

Ken Verity, 0044 1709 838352

265bhp · Post by **265bhp** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:20 pm

thanks Angus

Post by **1954Etype** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:03 pm

265bhp wrote:thanks Angus

Damn, so my sarcasm was missed on you :D

stretoo · Post by **stretoo** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:28 pm

Dear Robert

I chose the Coolcat fan for the following reasons:

- No alteration of the picture frame, the Coolcat fan uses the same mounting points
- No alteration of the fan cowl
- Almost the same current drawing as the original fan, 6.8Amps vs. 6.5Amps for the original fan, therefore no need to upgrade the alternator
- price

Efficiency figures (Cubic Feet per Minute/ Amps):
Figures provided by Coolcat

Jaguar original fan : 585 CFM 6.5 Amps Efficiency: 90
Kenlowe 16? : 2320 CFM 20.2 Amps Efficiency: 114.9
Coolcat : 2080 CFM 6.8 Amps Efficiency: 305.8

I never had an overheating problem since installation on my car (2 years ago). The fan is fed by a relay controlled by the Otter switch (always use a relay otherwise the Otter switch won?t last).

Robert Scarlett · Post by **Robert Scarlett** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:10 pm

Thank you Stretoo for the advice and the picture i have now ordered a Coolcat fan and look forward to it arriving this week.

Thanks

Robert.

NickJ · Post by **NickJ** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:19 pm

I fitted the kenlowe fan last year year after the mickey mouse original failed on my 62 FHC. Once removed I had much amusement spinning the single blade around and found very little in the way of a hint of a draught! I bought this from Barratts and it fitted fine and works a treat when set to your required setting. Do be aware that the kit they stock has all the instructions as for a negative earth unit. If you give a call to Kenlowe they are most helpful and will email you with the changes you need to make because of the different polarity. I suggested to Barratts that they add this to the pack as a matter of course and they may well have done this by now. You will need to discard the standard radiator shroud in order to fit the Kenlow one but it's a bit of a no brainer in terms of a compromise.
Cool motoring to you!
Nick James 62 FHC

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