Fitting an electric, thermostatically controlled fan in place of the
mechanical, engine-driven type can save you fuel and allow you to regain engine
power normally wasted in constantly driving the fan.
This article shows you how to fit an electric fan to a car that has a transverse engine with a side-mounted radiator - such as the Mini.
Restricted space
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The compactness of the engine compartment in this type of car means that
there is a restricted amount of space around the radiator area and you need to
fit a special type of electric fan - a suction fan.
Also as a result of restricted space, the fan is mounted in a different way.
Instead of being attached to the radiator itself, it is fitted to the inner
wing, outboard of the radiator. Hence it sucks. rather than blows air through
the radiator. You need to cut a hole in the cowling that covered the mechanical
fan to allow air, which is forced into the engine bay when the car is
travelling, to help cool the radiator so that the fan doesn't have to work all
the time the engine is running.
Fitting
It is a little more complicated to fit a fan to a side-mounted radiator than
to a front-mounted one. You need to do some cutting and drilling to the inner
wing and you also have to remove the radiator to cut out the hole in the
cowling.
Fitting the temperature sensor and control unit and wiring up the system is
much the same as for the other types of fan.
The procedure for fitting a Kenlowe suction fan to a BL Mini is covered
overleaf. When fitting this fan, or another maker's fan, to another model of
car, you should refer to the kit fitting instructions for any additional or
alternative instructions.