radiator fan still running even if engine is turned off?

[SKY888]

I just noticed today that the radiator fan is continuously running after I already turned off the engine

I went back to my car and started the engine and turned it off. That turned everything off including the radiator fan.

Anyone here also experienced this?

I was wondering whats the cause of this? And what will be the problem if this continuous?

Thanks!

[cerberus]

What was your engine temp when you shut it off? This was after you removed that "plastic stuff" you mention in the other thread? If the engine needs cooling after shutoff, I'd take it as a good thing that it continues to run the fan for a while, so long as we're not talking all night, .

[SKY888]

Originally Posted by cerberus

What was your engine temp when you shut it off? This was after you removed that "plastic stuff" you mention in the other thread? If the engine needs cooling after shutoff, I'd take it as a good thing that it continues to run the fan for a while, so long as we're not talking all night, .

Im not sure about the engine temp bro.

And you are right, this is after when I removed that plastic stuff/chin underneath! hahaha! Damn, I guess, I have to put it back!

[cerberus]

I would, lol. Just guessin, but you lost a boatload of airflow from down low and are most likely heat saturating your bay big time.

[SKY888]

Originally Posted by cerberus

I would, lol. Just guessin, but you lost a boatload of airflow from down low and are most likely heat saturating your bay big time.

hehehe...i thought it will bring more air since those black plastic stuff are just covering the engine bay.

That flap for the radiator I do know scoops air into the radiator.......but i thought removing it will not be such a big deal.....and will be more open to air. Oh well...i'll have to put them back on then

[EndiSky]

This is a pretty common thing, seen a ton of threads on it here and on the sol side. Happens to me once in awhile as well.

[SKY888]

Originally Posted by EndiSky

This is a pretty common thing, seen a ton of threads on it here and on the sol side. Happens to me once in awhile as well.

so even with your plastic chin/scoop underneath your car......still happens to you, huh?

[cerberus]

It'll still happen, sure. You guys should compare temps and how long the fan runs. Could be interesting.

[Kappa Fan]

Originally Posted by SKY888

hehehe...i thought it will bring more air since those black plastic stuff are just covering the engine bay.

That flap for the radiator I do know scoops air into the radiator.......but i thought removing it will not be such a big deal.....and will be more open to air. Oh well...i'll have to put them back on then

Golly Gosh Gee .... guess those GM engineers musta put it there for a reason huh?

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Kappa Fan

Golly Gosh Gee .... guess those GM engineers musta put it there for a reason huh?

Engineering can often create situations that seem counter intuitive. And it can be very different depending on the engineering choices made early in the design process.

Our SKY was DESIGNED as a bottom feeder. Bottom feeders get their air from, just like it's said, the bottom. From underneath or low front. Once you go down that design path, it can drive a lot of other design decision when it comes to air flow. This is why creating real hood vents or real side vents, although it seems will give better air flow, might actually be counter productive. The bottom up flow could be designed a certain way that an open hood or side vents could disrupt. The same could be said for parts underneath the car designed to direct air flow.

Contrast with the Suburu WRX. It has a real hood vent. And if you think about it, perhaps a smart design choice for a rally car.

Now, back to that fan. If the engine temp is above a certain value, the fan will turn on, regardless of whether the engine is running or not. Many cars do this, which is why you often see that big warning sticker on the fan housing stating: "Warning: Fan can start at any time". Mine does it occassionally when off, just after a long run, but never for very long.

[xmicro_Redline]

Oddly enough, for only the second time in the nearly 10,000 miles I have on my SKY, the same thing happened to me tonight.

The car was running hotter than normal, I always keep my eye on the temp gauge and always let the turbo cool about 3-5 minutes before garaging it. Normally after a ride car is between 208-212 degrees. Tonight I pulled into the driveway and the car was 214-216 degrees, It was only 65 degrees out tonight so the weather was not a factor. I let it run about 5 minutes WITH THE HOOD OPEN. I pulled it in the garage and shut it down. The fan ran for a solid 10 minutes after (with the hood open) and FINALLY shut off. It happened once when I first got the car in the winter of 07.

The only parallel I can think of is, the wife was cold, so I was running the heat both times....maybe that is it!

[SkyhighNY]

The same thing has happened to me twice within the 4k miles I have on my car. I don't normally check the temp so I don't know what it was. I pulled it into the garage and it ran for about 5 minutes each time but eventually turned itself off.

[SteveSky67]

Freaked me out the first time, but i was told that is normal...

[Kappa Fan]

Originally Posted by Bogie

Engineering can often create situations that seem counter intuitive. And it can be very different depending on the engineering choices made early in the design process.

Our SKY was DESIGNED as a bottom feeder. Bottom feeders get their air from, just like it's said, the bottom. From underneath or low front. Once you go down that design path, it can drive a lot of other design decision when it comes to air flow. This is why creating real hood vents or real side vents, although it seems will give better air flow, might actually be counter productive. The bottom up flow could be designed a certain way that an open hood or side vents could disrupt. The same could be said for parts underneath the car designed to direct air flow.

Contrast with the Suburu WRX. It has a real hood vent. And if you think about it, perhaps a smart design choice for a rally car.

Now, back to that fan. If the engine temp is above a certain value, the fan will turn on, regardless of whether the engine is running or not. Many cars do this, which is why you often see that big warning sticker on the fan housing stating: "Warning: Fan can start at any time". Mine does it occassionally when off, just after a long run, but never for very long.

Sorry for my sarcastic post bogie ... and yes I do understand engineering to a small degree. That little jab was in reference to a post I made on Sky888's 'other' thread where he stated he had removed the rubber chin that helps direct air into the engine bay.

Thank you though for further explaining why the addition of hood and side vents may or may not cool the engine bay further. AND why the fan may start at any time.

BTW ... while I had my Sol on a dyno we found that it cooled FASTER if the hood was CLOSED with the fans blowing rather than with it open.

[gadget]

Removing the rubber behind the chin would likely create a pressure zone behind the radiator causing less air to go through the radiator naturally. So now the car needs to run the fan more frequently to cool the engine.

As bogie stated the fan will run as much and as fast as it needs to to keep from dammaging the engine and it will always run if the airconditioning is running to keep airflow going across the condensor.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Kappa Fan

Sorry for my sarcastic post bogie ... and yes I do understand engineering to a small degree. That little jab was in reference to a post I made on Sky888's 'other' thread where he stated he had removed the rubber chin that helps direct air into the engine bay.

Indeed. I was playing some subtle forumship (I just made that word up) to amplify your sarcasm point to 888. The subtleness is by responding to a respondent I can make the point to the original poster and avoid the piling on syndrome which can occur when the point is delivered directly.

[SKY888]

ok, I tested my car today. It is around 86-87 degrees here in Rhode Island.

I drove the car for an hour both in the city and along I-295 north.

coolant temp is around 202-207 degrees around the city. But went down to 198-199 degrees when I was at the freeway. There was a moment when it even went to 196 degrees.

When I had that plastic chin/scoop the temp was around 200-205 degrees when driving on both highway/city.......on a 85-88 degree weather.

I'm just wondering howcome I'm getting better engine temp now than before?

Is it because I don't have much plastic cover underneath my engine bay and more surface area is being cool down or what?

Tech guys.......need your input.

Thanks!