Upgrade Your On/Off or Viscous Fan Clutch Retro Fit with a LINNIG 2 Speed Fan Clutch
The Rover SD1 Efi Viscous Fan Coupling (Clutch Fan) uses the unique properties of a silicone oil whose viscosity changes both with sheer force and temperature. A grooved wheel (fixed to the water pump) rotates within a grooved housing (fixed to fan blades) and the oil is forced to move within and between the revolving grooves. The larger the speed differential between oil layers in the wheel and housing the greater the sheer forces which raise the temperature and viscosity of the oil. The increased bond between the two causes the fan to rotate faster increasing airflow through the radiator. As speed difference falls, sheer forces and oil temperature fall, the oil gets thinner, the driving force lessens and fan speed stabilises. For Efi cars a forward facing bimetal coil senses the airflow coming from the radiator. Heat causes the coil to turn a shaft which operates an internal control valve regulating the volume of oil which is able to flow between the grooves. Thus hotter air allows more fluid to enter the grooves resulting in a stronger bond between wheel and housing giving higher fan speed and increased cooling.