Doe The Mi16 Need Two Cooling Fans?

[eob 7]

My next project on my mega mileage, slowly being restored, 205Gti Ph2 with an Mi16 conversion is to build a new wiring loom for the cooling fans with a decent high capacity relay. Unfortunately the old stuff failed miserably, once due to a faulty thermoswitch, the second is a wiring loom problem, the second failure has, I believe, cost me my head gasket so enough, is enough, and it's all being replaced with lovely Japanese switches and relays.

 

However

 

Does the Mi16, in our temperate climes (Ireland / UK) really need two fans? Very tempted to junk one in the name of weight saving and simplification.

 

Keep it lit.

 

[dcc 855]

depends how much of a bodge your engine install is and how badly it over heats at a junction. I had 1 fan on my mi16, and the same on my GTI6. The GTI6 runs hotter than an mi16, but I think I only ever heard the fan twice on the gti6, But then again I didnt have the car at a standstill long enough... if it's overheating while driving, you've got bigger problems...

[m_attt 31 1 Cars]

I had my fans on a switch for my gti6, hardly ever had to turn the fans on.

[Ryan 99]

Mine has been running with one fan for 7 years and I've never had it overheat, even stuck in traffic for hours.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

My next project on my mega mileage, slowly being restored, 205Gti Ph2 with an Mi16 conversion is to build a new wiring loom for the cooling fans with a decent high capacity relay. Unfortunately the old stuff failed miserably, once due to a faulty thermoswitch, the second is a wiring loom problem, the second failure has, I believe, cost me my head gasket so enough, is enough, and it's all being replaced with lovely Japanese switches and relays.

 

However

 

Does the Mi16, in our temperate climes (Ireland / UK) really need two fans? Very tempted to junk one in the name of weight saving and simplification.

 

Keep it lit.

 

No.

[omri617 18]

I run 1 fan also , the thing is , when having 2 fans , it takes less time to cool the engine . What I mean is , I don't like hearing the fan , going on 1 fan it takes too much time .

[welshpug 1,626]

my zx 16v runs a single fan as standard, 101 degrees on 98 off, 83 degree thermostat.

[omri617 18]

my zx 16v runs a single fan as standard, 101 degrees on 98 off, 83 degree thermostat.

 

Do you have air conditioner?

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

No and no override switch either.

Just make sure it all works properly.

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

Twin fans here, but only because the car was originally a twin set up!

 

Never had it running on the faster speed even when left sat running in the garage for ages.

 

I think most overheating problems are caused by s*itty components. Old tired radiators/matrix's pipes gunked up, old thermostats and faulty cooling fan switches. I would look to at least flush/replace the above before modification.

 

I just scrapped it all and plumbed in new, but it was amazing how much cack came out of my block on flushing. I ran about 6 systems worth of water through it and brought it to temp before draining, each time the water was rusty brown till the final two! I then piped it up and put uncle freeze in.

[pug_ham 241 3 Cars]

No, if your cooling system is in good health & the single fan works as it should then the only benefit of having two fans is they will run for a shorter period of time when they switch makes & turns them on.

 

g

[kyepan 291]

nope it doesn't

[Redtop 14 2 Cars]

Only had one fan in my 205 mi16 when I had it and no problem in traffic either, although alot nice to drive in traffic compared to a normal stock 8v. I had to change the fan switch as it failed on mine, along with some hard/corroded/crispy wiring. It would be worth getting your rad checked, cleaned out with a rad specialist and then if your re-wiring anyway maybe get a decent modern fan like a pacet fan that's more efficient at cooling? You can also use the decent wee waterproof connectors (most jap stuff have them) for doing the wiring that you get from vehicle wiring products.

 

Also 1.9 Mi16 thermostat is rated 89 degrees and normal 1.9 8v one is 83 degrees. Can't get a new "Mi16" one from Peugeot, but I just got one today actually for another car from the Motorfactors.

[eob 7]

Funnily enough, I love the sound of the two fans kicking in on the old Peugeot's, it sounds hilariously powerful for the size of the car.

 

As regards only using one fan, it makes sense to junk the second purely because...

 

1. It saves weight

2. Far easier to make up a new wiring loom for the cooling system when it is so critical to the survivability of your engine

 

Luckily enough on my system the entire block was cleaned when the engine was apart and it has an aluminium rad with less than 1,000 miles on it.

 

Thanks for the replies. One fan heading for the parts shelf.

Eamonn