Should I just strap a box fan to the grill?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 864
Likes: 4
From: Arlington, Texas
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
For those that don't know, Maytober is it's own season in Texas. It's that time of year where it's just effing H.O.T every day. We stop recognizing the passage of time using clocks, and instead our milestones are how many weeks it's been since there was any rain, or how many days it's been since the daily high was below 100.
At any rate, during Maytober, my electric fan runs non-stop. You have to have the AC going all the time if you value your life, and prefer to breathe air that doesn't feel like a steam cloud out of a sauna. Literally, it will still be 90 degrees outside at 10 pm, with 85% humidity.
My problem is how loud the electric fan is. My cooling system is all three years old, and was replaced when I put a new longblock in. It works fine, and my gauge never gets above 210. But that fan...
Holy mother... It sounds like a 1960's Kirby vacuum going full tilt in the bottom of an empty steel barrel. I know it's not just my fan. Other XJ owners I know that participate in Maytober sound the same.
On the plus side, it's so freaking loud it drowns out the other half dozen creaks, groans, pops, and squeaks that my Jeep emits. Sounds like a rehearsal session for freakin' Blue Man Group!
Anyone aware of a good option for a fan that doesn't sound like the flight deck of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier?
At any rate, during Maytober, my electric fan runs non-stop. You have to have the AC going all the time if you value your life, and prefer to breathe air that doesn't feel like a steam cloud out of a sauna. Literally, it will still be 90 degrees outside at 10 pm, with 85% humidity.
My problem is how loud the electric fan is. My cooling system is all three years old, and was replaced when I put a new longblock in. It works fine, and my gauge never gets above 210. But that fan...
Holy mother... It sounds like a 1960's Kirby vacuum going full tilt in the bottom of an empty steel barrel. I know it's not just my fan. Other XJ owners I know that participate in Maytober sound the same.
On the plus side, it's so freaking loud it drowns out the other half dozen creaks, groans, pops, and squeaks that my Jeep emits. Sounds like a rehearsal session for freakin' Blue Man Group!
Anyone aware of a good option for a fan that doesn't sound like the flight deck of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 734
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
For those that don't know, Maytober is it's own season in Texas. It's that time of year where it's just effing H.O.T every day. We stop recognizing the passage of time using clocks, and instead our milestones are how many weeks it's been since there was any rain, or how many days it's been since the daily high was below 100. At any rate, during Maytober, my electric fan runs non-stop. You have to have the AC going all the time if you value your life, and prefer to breathe air that doesn't feel like a steam cloud out of a sauna. Literally, it will still be 90 degrees outside at 10 pm, with 85% humidity. My problem is how loud the electric fan is. My cooling system is all three years old, and was replaced when I put a new longblock in. It works fine, and my gauge never gets above 210. But that fan... Holy mother... It sounds like a 1960's Kirby vacuum going full tilt in the bottom of an empty steel barrel. I know it's not just my fan. Other XJ owners I know that participate in Maytober sound the same. On the plus side, it's so freaking loud it drowns out the other half dozen creaks, groans, pops, and squeaks that my Jeep emits. Sounds like a rehearsal session for freakin' Blue Man Group! Anyone aware of a good option for a fan that doesn't sound like the flight deck of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier?
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 17
From: Monett, MO.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Yes I do know of a few, but how much money do you want to spend??
You can look at a few in the Summit or Jegs catalogs for racing apps ones. I have one on my wife's 79 Mustang with a 572 ci. BBC and another one in my race wagon. Both are different brands but about the same price range $5-600 they are the only fans on these cars as both have electric water pumps also.
You can look at a few in the Summit or Jegs catalogs for racing apps ones. I have one on my wife's 79 Mustang with a 572 ci. BBC and another one in my race wagon. Both are different brands but about the same price range $5-600 they are the only fans on these cars as both have electric water pumps also.
Just be thankful for the weather haha. I don't know if I've ever been in weather over 100. Just reached 61 today and I was getting ready to go to the beach, warmest it's been in a few weeks
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CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
On my ZJ I ditched the engine driven fan and installed a modified 94 Ford Taurus fan. I also changed to a 180 degree thermostat. I have a adjustable fan controller that kicks on at 150. My temps never go above 200 while crawling around or in town. The only time I see temps over 200 is when I'm driving up long grades.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, TX
Year: 2002
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Just got my XJ a few months ago so I hope it does good here in FT Worth when it gets hot, but just cruising around with AC on its right around 210. Can you use a lower temp Tstat? Or will the E-fan not come on?
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
There is much debate about installing a lower temp thermostat wether it will lower the operating temperature or not. I installed a 180 degree thermostat in my ZJ with the engine driven fan. If I kept moving the temps were lower, but as soon as I was stuck at a light the temps would go up and stay at 210. Climbing long steep grades also caused the temps to go up to about 215. Once I got rid of the engine driven fan and went to an electric fan with an adjustable controller my temps stay at about 190 degrees and will actually go lower while sitting at red lights. If I'm doing some slow trail riding or crawling my temps stay nice and low. The electric fan swap was the best mod that I have done under the hood, I highly recommend it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
I sourced a fan from 94 Ford Taurus with a 3.0 V6. I had an old radiator that I used for mock up and trimmed the shroud to fit the radiator almost perfectly. It's a two speed fan, but I only wired up the high speed. I got the fan assembly from the boneyard for 17 bucks and the controller came from Amazon for 35 dollars.
Last edited by Bustedback; May 6, 2015 at 12:16 PM.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: Garden Prairie
Year: 2000, (1957 Willys)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L


