Rad Vlad

Hey guys, sorry if this is already a thread somewhere. I have a 99 xj with no lift and pretty much stock tire size, the car was hit and the electric aux fan was damaged so i disconnected it. Yesterday I took it offroad on mountain trail and it started overheating on some of the steeper gravel roads.
My question is, does the aux fan play a big role in keeping the engine cool? what are some good but cheap replacement fans i could get and where?
I also saw some posts about transmission coolers and thought it would be a good idea to get one, because I am planning on doing some harder trails, what are some good and cheap tranny coolers and what are your experiences with them?
EDIT: any other tips for keeping the engine cool are appreciated

toasterknight

When running with a lot of load the aux fan is absolutely necessary. You can get a replacement off amazon pretty cheaply and really good quality. I just did this one mine.

Rad Vlad

would it be better to get an aftermarket fan that would cool it down better, or is the oem one fine?

toasterknight

The oem replacement I bought is quieter and works just as well.

EZEARL

Just make sure your cooling system is in top shape and keep it serviced.


If you don't already have one in place get a fan shroud.


I use a B&M trans cooler #70264. Amazon also.


Napa #272310 HD clutch fan.

Rad Vlad

i actually dont have a fan shroud, is this necessary?
EDIT: also, what exactly is a fan clutch and what does it do?

chipmaker

The shroud is necessary to direct air flow back and around the motor. Best place I've found to get one is rockauto. The fan clutch is the finned aluminum plate that is bolted to your main fan. It allows the fan to speed up and slow down depending on engine speed. When one goes bad the fan will not work as efficiently as it should. A good way to test one it to try to spin your fan with your finger, just give it a good shove. If it moves more than 1/2 to 3/4 of a rotation, more than likely its no bueno.

EZEARL

^^^^^^^^^^that. Although I will add that the clutch dies gradually so if your not sure of its condition replace it. When I first got my XJ it would run hot only when pulling a mountain at highway speeds. "Tested" good but when I replaced it the problem was solved.