Texas Kooler fan

[Roger007]

Do the Texas Kooler Fans really make a difference at traffic idles?

 

[Rob Glasgow]

I think so. I have used one for 30 plus years and have never overheated in traffic.

 

[Roger007]

Any Pros & Cons?

 

[AUSMHLY]

I think so. I have used one for 30 plus years and have never overheated in traffic.

Rob, when you're sitting still in traffic, stop and go, stop and go, how high does your temperature go?

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Roger,
I had a BN6 that would easily go over the 190 degree mark in stop and go traffic and adding a Texas Cooler fan certainly helped. What made the biggest difference for me was also adding a pusher fan. My car was one Healey that simply ran hot and with the two simple mods, kept it under control - and this was with everything else being set up correctly.
Regards,
Mike

 

[gra]

The combination of the Texas Cooler and a BCS shroud seem to be working. The fan alone made things better and the addition of the shroud improved things even more.

 

[Roger007]

Thank you all for the great info!
greatly appreciated!

Happy Motoring!

 

[RAC68]

Roger,

Although I feel the Texas Kooler is a major component that keeps temperatures under control in stop-&-go traffic conditions, I would find it hard to say it is the primary element. My BJ8’s radiator has been equipped with a larger core and vertical panels have been installed on each side that act as a simple fan shroud to reduce air from bleeding off the ends of the fan blades. Also, I have equipped the overflow with a non-pressurized recovery system to make sure the level of coolant in the radiator is maintained at a full level.

Sorry, the picture shows the elements mentioned but was originally used in an article addressing the installation of an alternator.

Don’t misunderstand, I recommend the Texas Kooler but do not believe it is the only, or even main, element in a cooling system update.

Good luck,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[Keoke]

Although I feel the Texas Kooler fan is not the principle component that keeps temperatures under control in stop-&-go traffic conditions, I would find it hard to say it is the primary element.

BJ8’s with a radiator equipped with a larger serpentine radiator core and vertical panels have been installed on each side that act as a simple fan shroud to reduce air from bleeding off the ends of the fan blades. Also, having the overflow with a coolent recovery system to make sure the level of coolant in the radiator is maintained at a full level will tend to keep a BJ8 cool.---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[Rob Glasgow]

Roger, I used to live in the Great Central Valley of California where the summer temps were in the 90-105 deg range. In stop and go traffic, the engine temp would get up to 195 deg. and drop to 185 when I got back to highway speed. The interior of the car always felt like it was 500 deg. and with the sun beating down on my head, it was always a challenge to drive very far. I now live on the California coast so driving is always a pleasure.

BTW, your Moto Lita steering wheel sure looks good in my car. Thanks for giving it up.

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Rob,

Pleased to hear you're happy with the Moto-Lita! Glad that it has an owerner that appreciates it.

 

[drambuie]

In addition to aTexas cooling fan for keeping your healey cooler at stop lights, (The stock fan is useless) One of the most over looked problems causing Austin healeys to over heat is the wrong thermostat , Check to make sure the previous owner did NOT install a modern type thermostat ... Only use the original sleeved type in a healey as a modern type thermastat will block part of the coolent causing overheating problems. Not being aware of this fact will cause healey owners fits trying to figure out why there car is running so hot! Does moss motors have the Texas cooler fan back on the market ? I need one.

 

[Hoghead]

so where can I buy a better mechanical fan or just stuff it and put an electrical pusher in front of the rad
Both?

Oil cooler?

 

[TimK]

British Car Specialists sells a 6 blade stainless fan and two piece shroud which I installed together with a sleeved thermostat and a re-cored 14 fin per inch radiator and the proper cap. The cap is deeper than a standard car cap. All this keeps me under 190 under any conditions.

My old rad was plugged with clay-like substance in about a third of the tubes when the repair shop opened it up.

 

[59BN6]

I bought a BN6 a couple of years ago which wasn't in a great state. It ran very hot during the Australian summer, even overheating after a 45 minute drive on open roads, which resulted in around 40 minutes sitting under a tree waiting for it to cool down so I could carefully drive the remaining 10 minutes home.

It happened to be the last drive before a fairly significant tidy up, and as part of that the engine was out with core plugs removed, and I then flushed the block. A huge amount of debris was washed out. I also installed a Texas Kooler fan I had already bought from Moss, and a 160F thermostat. Between the 3 improvements, there has been a HUGE improvement, and now the temperature never gets much above 160, even after a long drive in summer, or in city traffic.

Can't say which of the 3 things had the biggest effect, or if they all helped equally, but I can say I am very happy with the fan. I would certainly buy it again, and recommend it.

 

[TimK]

i had similar symptoms and discovered that the radiator core was plugged (about 1/3 of the down tubes were plugged with a soft clay like substance). That was the most significant cure -- I also installed a British Car Specialists 6 blade fan with shroud and a sleeved thermostat. These did not cure the overheating, but help maintain the cool after re-coring the radiator.