Radiator fan always running. Is this normal?

[mav1c]

My radiator fan runs constantly. As soon as I start up it starts running. Also, sometimes I get a very faint wiff of coolant after parking. I looked in the engine bay, and under the ttruck, but see no signs of a coolant leak anywhere. Is this normal? If not, anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

Thanks in advance.

[Quartz]

Which fan?

[mav1c]

Ummm...the radiator fan. The one that sits right behind the radiator and blow into it.

[TallTexan]

Mine runs very seldom. If I am idling a lot or pulling a load or on real hot days.

[Shane06fl]

The cooling fan will always turn as the engine is running but not at full speed until normal operating temperature. Once the engine heats up and the fan clutch engages the cooling fan should run at full bore when the normal operating temp has been reached. As far as I know there is no sensor for the fan clutch to say when it engages. It may decrease in speed some at highway speeds when more air is being dragged past the fan and clutch but most of the time it's running at full lock.

You sure your not hear the electric fan??

[husker1206]

Originally Posted by Shane06fl

The cooling fan will always turn as the engine is running but not at full speed until normal operating temperature. Once the engine heats up and the fan clutch engages the cooling fan should run at full bore when the normal operating temp has been reached. As far as I know there is no sensor for the fan clutch to say when it engages. It may decrease in speed some at highway speeds when more air is being dragged past the fan and clutch but most of the time it's running at full lock.

You sure your not hear the electric fan??

Im pretty sure that he is talking about the electric bolt on fan.

[Shane06fl]

Originally Posted by husker1206

Im pretty sure that he is talking about the electric bolt on fan.

I figured as much but looking at this sentance, a proper answer is still needed.

''The one that sits right behind the radiator and blow into it.''

behind the radiator I think would be in the compartment.

[loufish]

The electric fan should not be running except if the coolant temp gets hot enough, or whan running the A/C...
If it runs when its not supposed to, check to see if the fan relay is stuck in the closed position.

[cuba65]

How many fans do we have? Electric bolt on? Clutch engaged? Thought there was only one... the one right in front of the radiator?

[loufish]

We have the mechanical fan driven by the "fan belt" and an electric one that operates on demand...When the coolant reaches a certain temp, or when running the a/c the electric fan runs...
The engine driven "clutch" fan is just that, it has a clutch that uses a viscous liquid silicone fluid to either slip or lock-up increasing cooling.
This fan usually slips, requiring little horsepower to operate, and is fairly quiet. When the coolant reaches a certain temp, a sensor built in to the front of the fans clutch senses the higher temps and starts locking up the fan to provide more cooling...