Fan crack?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,103
Likes: 3,208
From: New Jersey
Before you replace it. Is the fan powder coated or just painted? In either case I would take a pick and dig at it to see if the coating is suspect and not the fan. Try to pull the coating off and see if the fan is cracked as well. These fans do not usually crack the way yours appears to have. Unless someone used a pry bar to hold it in place and tighten the belt it would be unlikely that the fan will crack this way.
Magnesium does not get brittle over time. It will deteriorate, corrode and fail due to the corrosion if the coating is allowed to fail. From what I see I believe the coating is suspect although a thorough examination is warranted.
Also aluminum will not suffer the same way magnesium does however it will weigh 33% more. Not sure it is a better alternative. A fresh fan well cared for should last another 20 years and more if it is not allowed to be exposed to the elements.
I am curious to know if it is the casting or the coating.
Magnesium does not get brittle over time. It will deteriorate, corrode and fail due to the corrosion if the coating is allowed to fail. From what I see I believe the coating is suspect although a thorough examination is warranted.
Also aluminum will not suffer the same way magnesium does however it will weigh 33% more. Not sure it is a better alternative. A fresh fan well cared for should last another 20 years and more if it is not allowed to be exposed to the elements.
I am curious to know if it is the casting or the coating.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 659
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Before you replace it. Is the fan powder coated? I would take a pick and dig at it to see if the coating is suspect and not the fan. These fans do not usually crack the way yours appears to have. Unless someone used a pry bar to hold it in place and tighten the belt it would be unlikely that the fan will crack this way.
Magnesium does not get brittle over time. It will deteriorate, corrode and fail due to the corrosion if the coating is allowed to fail. From what I see I believe the coating is suspect although a thorough examination is warranted.
Also aluminum will not suffer the same way magnesium does however it will weigh 33% more. Not sure it is a better alternative. A fresh fan well cared for should last another 20 years or more if it is not allowed to be exposed to the elements.
I am curious to know if it is the casting or the coating.
Magnesium does not get brittle over time. It will deteriorate, corrode and fail due to the corrosion if the coating is allowed to fail. From what I see I believe the coating is suspect although a thorough examination is warranted.
Also aluminum will not suffer the same way magnesium does however it will weigh 33% more. Not sure it is a better alternative. A fresh fan well cared for should last another 20 years or more if it is not allowed to be exposed to the elements.
I am curious to know if it is the casting or the coating.
As far as I am aware, the fan wasn't power-coated at all, certainly not since I've owned it.
It is only that I changed the fan belt the other day and whilst I had it all apart, figured I would degrease, clean and paint the fan (just with auto rattle can) for no other reason than 'why not'.
When I had the fan by the tap degreasing it, I noticed the crack then. It doesn't go all the way through - in fact, it is more like a deep scratch than a crack - although it is a crack. I really didn't think much more about it and just painted the fan anyway.
It was only when it was all back together I started to wonder whether or not I should have replaced fan.
I have driven the car twice - both for 30 minute drives at freeway conditions and when I got back, the crack was the same.
The weather here in Australia has been nearly 40 degrees (so about 110 in imperial scale) - so I kind of figured that in that temperature if it didn't get worse, it might be ok. That's when I decided to post to the forum for opinions.
Given the comments above from guys that have had the thing explode and the collateral damage that it causes - I think I'd be pretty stupid to not replace it though.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,103
Likes: 3,208
From: New Jersey
thanks for the very interesting comment ! It's amazing how much I learn on this forum !
As far as I am aware, the fan wasn't power-coated at all, certainly not since I've owned it.
It is only that I changed the fan belt the other day and whilst I had it all apart, figured I would degrease, clean and paint the fan (just with auto rattle can) for no other reason than 'why not'.
When I had the fan by the tap degreasing it, I noticed the crack then. It doesn't go all the way through - in fact, it is more like a deep scratch than a crack - although it is a crack. I really didn't think much more about it and just painted the fan anyway.
It was only when it was all back together I started to wonder whether or not I should have replaced fan.
I have driven the car twice - both for 30 minute drives at freeway conditions and when I got back, the crack was the same.
The weather here in Australia has been nearly 40 degrees (so about 110 in imperial scale) - so I kind of figured that in that temperature if it didn't get worse, it might be ok. That's when I decided to post to the forum for opinions.
Given the comments above from guys that have had the thing explode and the collateral damage that it causes - I think I'd be pretty stupid to not replace it though.
As far as I am aware, the fan wasn't power-coated at all, certainly not since I've owned it.
It is only that I changed the fan belt the other day and whilst I had it all apart, figured I would degrease, clean and paint the fan (just with auto rattle can) for no other reason than 'why not'.
When I had the fan by the tap degreasing it, I noticed the crack then. It doesn't go all the way through - in fact, it is more like a deep scratch than a crack - although it is a crack. I really didn't think much more about it and just painted the fan anyway.
It was only when it was all back together I started to wonder whether or not I should have replaced fan.
I have driven the car twice - both for 30 minute drives at freeway conditions and when I got back, the crack was the same.
The weather here in Australia has been nearly 40 degrees (so about 110 in imperial scale) - so I kind of figured that in that temperature if it didn't get worse, it might be ok. That's when I decided to post to the forum for opinions.
Given the comments above from guys that have had the thing explode and the collateral damage that it causes - I think I'd be pretty stupid to not replace it though.
I would buy a new magnesium fan and just keep an eye on it. They all chip the paint over time from debris being sucked into the engine at speed. Just touch up the damage if this happens.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 659
Likes: 2
From: Australia
So there was an obvious crack prior to your painting it? If that is the case it needs to be replaced. The only time i have seen the fans crack like this is when some tries to wedge a pipe or something between the blades to hold it while torquing the center nut. That is a common mistake and will damage the fan.
I would buy a new magnesium fan and just keep an eye on it. They all chip the paint over time from debris being sucked into the engine at speed. Just touch up the damage if this happens.
I would buy a new magnesium fan and just keep an eye on it. They all chip the paint over time from debris being sucked into the engine at speed. Just touch up the damage if this happens.
I have a feeling it has been like this for quite some time - as I only drive the car about once a week.
I have found a guy on Pelican that I can get a very good fan (used) for $280 USD, which seems like a good deal, so I think I'll get that and swap them out.
