|
re: "...the temp ga started to go up about 2 needle widths past the 1/2 way mark...."
A couple of things. Frist, I believe you asked about the higher performance fan clutch, officially a "Tropical Cooling Fan Clutch", that we've been calling a "swamp cooler". It's Volvo p/n is 1357433, and its list price is $248. Years ago, I got two for 1/3 that price, but I don't think the vender has any more (he told me then that these were the last of his supply).
Second, you never said what model year car you have, but while that gauge reading (in the quote on top) is okay for a pre-'85 car, if you've got a '85-on car with the temperature compensation board still working (which would be rare), you could have been quite a lot hotter. The TCB limits the movement of gauge's needle until it's really very hot (at which time it starts to indicate overheating), so you might have actually been at the equivalent (on a non-TCB car) of very close to the red. That's why on my two '93's, I removed the TCB (and jumpered its contacts) so that the gauge works like it should.
In any case, I agree with the others who suggested keeping the fan on. But, realize that with the "swamp cooler", your fan will actually have a higher duty cycle, running slightly more often because the fan clutch engages more readily -- good in hot climates to forestall over heating, but bad if you want to save gas.
|
