But we’re here to spread some good news. If your vehicle has a belt-driven engine cooling fan, you can install an electric fan and realize a fuel economy improvement and free up some power for an overall better driving experience.

An electric fan completely removes the mechanical load of spinning the fan from the engine. This means less work for the engine and better fuel economy. Another benefit of converting to a Flex-a-lite electric fan is quicker warm-up times. An engine at its designed operating temperature also runs more efficiently, providing better more miles per gallon.

How much more fuel economy? Trev Burt is a member of the technical sales team at Premier Performance. He installed Flex-a-lite part No. 264 on his Dodge Cummins truck and reported a fuel economy improvement of 2 ½ mpg! Diesel Power magazine did a similar test and found a 2-3 mpg increase in fuel economy. That’s more than a 10 percent improvement with their specific test truck!

The technology works with gasoline engines too. In fact, we’d love to hear how much improvement in fuel economy you find after installing a Flex-a-lite electric fan. Leave a comment below, or post it our Facebook wall.

Visit our electric fan applications page at flex-a-lite.com for a complete listing of fan sizes and cfm ratings to find one that will work best in your application. We also offer direct-fit applications for Camaros, Mustangs, pickup trucks and more.

The Mojave installation kits include “Y” tubing connections, a shut-off valve, hose, clamps and grommets. Flex-a-lite offers three variations of the installation kit that make it easier to install the Mojave in place of a failed factory heater core, in a new installation where there wasn’t any heater previously installed and in UTVs that use smaller diameter connectors.

The new plenum (part #655) for the Mojave heater is shorter in depth to help it fit in smaller spaces. It is just 2 ½ inches deep and snaps onto the face of the Mojave heater for directional heating. The original plenum (part #650) is still available, which has additional ports for connecting a duct for defrosting

Mojave heaters tie into the existing engine-coolant source and outputs 12,000 BTU. An integrated electric fan moves 130 cfm, drawing 8 amps. The overall unit measures 12.12 x 9 x 5 inches. A 3-way switch and wiring necessary to complete the installation are included with the Mojave heater (Part #640).

Mojave Part Numbers:

640 Mojave Heater – 12,000 BTU heater with 3-way switch and wiring

650 Mojave Plenum – Two vents and two ports for defroster vent connection

655 Mojave Plenum – Two vents in a slim unit for compact spaces

660 Mojave Install Kit – Lets you replace a failed factory heater core with a Mojave unit

661 Mojave Install Kit – Designed for a new installation (no heater previously installed)

662 Mojave Install Kit – Engineered specifically for UTVs with smaller diameter connectors

Visit www.flex-a-lite.com for more information.

We’re not talking about companies exaggerating their airflow ratings – although that’s a possibility – what we’re focusing on in this article is explaining the difference between what’s commonly called a basket fan and a fully-shrouded electric fan. Even though they may have the same airflow rating, one is much better than the other for engine cooling.

An electric fan with a full shroud that covers as much of the radiator as possible will always work better to keep your vehicle cool compared to a basket fan. There are several reasons for this.

Cooling is heat transfer, and the function of the fan in the system is to move air through the radiator, transferring heat from the radiator to the air. A fully shrouded fan covers more radiator core surface than a simple basket fan. A basket fan will move air that looks like a doughnut; only moving air in a tight circle around the fan blades, and there will be a hole in the middle of the airflow blocked by the fan motor. A shrouded fan that has the motor mounted 2-3 inches away from the radiator surface will pull air through the entire area. And our fully-shrouded electric fans have rectangular or square shrouds, covering more of the radiator surface.

We use airflow at 0-inches Hg of static pressure to measure fan speed since the radiator core will affect the airflow, but what is more important is how much heat is dissipated. Even though an electric fan may have the same or only a slightly higher cfm rating, the ability of a fully shrouded electric fan to pull heat out of a radiator is much higher. We tested a Flex-a-lite 16-inch fan assembly (Part #396) and the same fan assembly in a fully shrouded assembly (Part #180) and found 40-percent more heat dissipation!

Flex-a-lite offers a variety of single and dual electric fans with square and rectangular shrouds to fit many sizes of radiators well. We also realize that space constraints can be an issue, so we offer a line of slim-profile electric fans that still offer good shrouding, although the fan motor is moved closer to the radiator surface. Visit our electric fan applications page at flex-a-lite.com for a complete listing of fan sizes and cfm ratings to find one that will work best in your application.

Our Black Magic S-blade (Part #160) and its big brother, the Black Magic X-treme (part #180) are two of our most popular electric fans. The #160 moves 3,000 cfm of air the #180 is rated at 3,300 cfm, and both use a 15-inch blade. The cooling advantage of the Black Magic design is a rectangular shroud that covers more of the radiator surface and having the electric motor mounted farther from the surface to reduce an air eddy affect.

Our LoBoy fan (Part #118 for a puller and #119 for a pusher) also has a 16-inch fan blade and moves 2,500 cfm of air, only about 17 percent less than the #160 fan shown above. And it is only 1.25 inches tall at the shroud. It’s a great fan for tight clearances, but it will not work well as the primary cooling fan for your 1939 Ford with a 500-horsepower engine.

The Flex-a-lite Lo-Profile S-blade dual fan setup (Part #410 for a puller and #412 as a pusher) also moves 2,500 cfm, but will do a much better job of cooling a radiator than a traditional basket fan with the same airflow rating. Even though the airflow rating is the same, it’s spread out over a much larger surface area of the radiator. It’s ideal to cover at least 70 percent of the radiator surface with the fan shroud.

Owners of ’72-’86 Jeep CJs know how hard it is to find a performance cooling system that is as capable and durable as their Jeep. That’s about to change as Flex-a-lite is now shipping its all-new, bolt-in Flex-a-fit radiator and electric fan combo for these vehicles! And there are configurations available to fit CJs with stock engines and also to accommodate the popular GM and Ford V-8 engine conversions.The core of this combo is a Flex-a-fit radiator featuring dual 1-inch all-aluminum radiator core that is hand-welded in the U.S. to the Flex-a-fit sidetanks patented “T” tank technology. The “T” channels offer a durable mounting system for the radiator, electric fan and optional oil cooler or expansion tank. The radiator core is protected while off roading because the electric fan is mounted to the Flex-a-fit sidetank and not through the radiator core. The Flex-a-fit system also eliminates the risk of the belt-driven fan contacting the fan shroud when the body and chassis flex while off-roading. With this latest introduction Flex-a-lite now covers thirty years of Jeep CJs and Wranglers.

The Flex-a-fit radiator is available with or without a fully shrouded 15-inch Flex-a-lite electric fan that moves 3,000 cfm and comes pre-mounted to the radiator from the factory. The fan draws 19.5 amps and includes a control module for adjustable temperature setting and air conditioning relay. A terminal on the controller allows you to connect a manual override switch to turn the fan off for water crossings. Our optional 20-ounce overflow tank (part #32013) can be added to the sidetank channel as well.

Part Numbers:
51008 Radiator only – Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 LH inlet, GM V-8 conversion (non-LS)
51009 Radiator only – Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 RH inlet, stock engines and Ford V-8 conversions
51168 Radiator and fan combo-Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 LH inlet, GM V-8 conversion (non-LS)
51169 Radiator and fan combo-Jeep CJ ‘72-‘86 RH inlet, stock and Ford V-8 conversions

Please visit www.flex-a-lite.com for more information on this product.

You may have seen the popular posting on Facebook called, “Christmas 2011 – Birth of a New Tradition,” urging people to buy American. We like the basic message of thinking about different ways that you can use your Christmas shopping to help the U.S. while minimize the exporting of American dollars to other countries.

Some of the suggestions offered were gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber, a gym membership and a gift card good for a car detailing. All good ideas, but they focused on services.

Going beyond services that keep local citizens employed, we’d like to point out that some products are actually still made in the U.S., such as what we manufacture at Flex-a-lite. We punch the steel, mold the blades and shrouds and do all of the assembly work in our facility in Fife, WA, for our belt-driven and electric fans. We also hand-weld our Flex-a-fit aluminum radiators and do all of the manufacturing processes for our oil and fuel coolers on site. Watch the video above for a good overview of what we do.

Sure, we could save money and increase our profits in the short-term if we had all of our products made off-shore, but that’s not who we are. We are an innovative manufacturing company. We take pride in the performance cooling products we create, from the patented ideas all the way through to the parts we make. We know the importance of making products on site, where we can make changes instantly and we can continuously check and improve our quality. We also put a lot of value in the people who count on us for work…some of our employees have been with us for more than 30 years!

For your Christmas shopping – and long after – we encourage you to think about where your products are made and who they are supporting.

New Flex-a-lite® Automotive Catalog

We have an all-new catalog, celebrating our 50th year as a performance cooling manufacturer. This 2012 catalog features 42 new part numbers including radiators, electric cooling fans, Mojave heater, oil coolers, Flex-a-Chill radiator additive and promotional items. Flex-a-lite products continue to be manufactured in the United States, and product specifications such as dimensional information, amp rating, air flow, and amp ratings are included in the new catalog.

Radiator & Fan Combination for ’72-’86 CJ Applications including Ford/GM conversions

Flex-a-lite’s latest radiator and fan combinations fit ’76-’86 Jeep CJs with stock engines and also with the popular GM and Ford V-8 engine conversions. The dual 1-inch all-aluminum radiator core is hand welded in the U.S. to the Flex-a-fit sidetanks patented “T” tank technology. The “T” channels offer a durable mounting system for the radiator, electric fan and optional oil cooler or expansion tank. The radiator core is protected while off roading because the electric fan is mounted to the Flex-a-fit sidetank and not through the radiator core.

2010-2011 Camaro with its All-new Flex-a-fit® Aluminum Radiator and Electric Fan Combination

Flex-a-lite introduces its new Flex-a-fit® radiator and electric fan combination for 2010-2011 V-8 Camaro. This radiator offers three times more cooling surface and twice the core thickness compared to the stock radiator for significantly better cooling. The 2-row 1 inch radiator is all-aluminum and hand welded for better construction than the original composite. Electric fan comes pre-mounted from the factory and utilizes the original fan connections.

Direct-fit Automatic Transmission Cooler for 2010-2011 Camaro

Owners of 2010-2011 Camaros can now easily extend the life of their transmission with a Flex-a-lite transmission cooler. Part #4116C is a direct-fit kit specific for these cars, including a bracket system, fittings, hose and hardware needed for a clean installation.

Mojave Installation Kits Make a Hot Product Even Hotter

The Mojave heater from Flex-a-lite has been a favorite way to add a compact heater to hot rods, off-road vehicles, vans, motorhomes, boats and even liquid-cooled air planes. Now it’s even easier to install a Mojave heater with our new installation kits.

Flex-a-lite® Expands Mojave Plenum Offering to Help the Powerful Heater Fit in Tighter Quarters

Responding to consumer feedback, Flex-a-lite® is introducing a new plenum for its Mojave heater which is shorter in depth to help it fit in smaller spaces. The new plenum (part #655) is just 2 ½ inches deep and snaps onto the face of the Mojave heater for directional heating. To include directional heating as well as a duct for defrosting snap-on plenum (part #650) to the face of the Mojave heater.

There are three essential steps to mounting the Flex-a-lite electric fan controller:

1)    Find a location under hood that is away from extreme heat source such as the exhaust, and that allows the temperature probe to reach the inlet side of the radiator

2)    Make the proper wiring connections as outlined in the video and the instructions; make sure the primary positive and negative connections go directly to the battery

3)    Crimp and insulate wire connections properly

In the video, we cover a variety of other tips that help illustrate the instructions included with our variable speed controller. It also addresses what to do if your battery has been relocated to the rear of the vehicle; a popular modifications for performance cars and off-road vehicles.

If you own a 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler (JK), you already know how cool this vehicle is. But if it has an automatic transmission, it might turn out to be a hot vehicle. In fact, last year, 88,000 of them were recalled for potential automatic transmission overheating. The fix at the dealership is to install a trans temp warning light. If the light comes on, you’re supposed to park your Jeep and let it cool down.

We have a different fix that we like a lot better. The Flex-a-lite Part # 4118 transmission cooler more than triples the cooling capacity that a Jeep Wrangler should ever need. Our trans cooler is made in the U.S.A. and includes our unique Turbulators, which are inside the cooler tubes. These Turbulators increase the heat transfer from the fluid.

The installation of our transmission cooler in one of these Jeeps is easy and only takes a couple of hours. In fact, Jp magazine recently published an article showing you exactly how to do it. Click here to read Anti Auto Bake on www.jpmagazine.com.

If you have a tow rig for your Jeep, you may want to put one of these or one of our larger model transmission coolers on your truck, too. Nothing ruins your day like overheating your automatic transmission! And it’s easy and inexpensive to avoid. See all of our transmission coolers at www.flex-a-lite.com.

Hot August Nights in Trondheim is organized by the American Car Club Trondheim and has celebrated cruising and the American car culture for years.

We even spotted one of our fans – a Flex-a-lite Part # 110 electric fan – on a cool Model A.

The event is going on right now (August 12-14, 2011), so we’re going to go speak the universal language of hot rods with our Norwegian friends. If you’re in the area next year, plan on attending!

It is true that an electric fan being turned by air blowing into it acts like a generator, but it’s not a very good one. The voltage is low and the current generated is usually extremely low. The fan generating electricity won’t damage the fan motor, and the voltage and amperage is so low that it won’t damage any of the related components. In addition, what little electricity is created is blocked from flowing back into the vehicle’s electrical system by our thermostat switch. When the fan is not activated, the switch is open which keeps electricity from flowing in either direction.

That addresses the affect that ram air has on an electric fan when the fan is turned off. When the fan is turned on and you have air forced into it by driving down the road at speed, the ram air actually reduces the load on the electric fan. Because the air is already trying to come through the fan, it reduces the work that the fan has to do.

So you can remove this worry from your list of unsolved mysteries, and get back to enjoying the added power and improved fuel economy that an electric fan provides! Click here to visit www.flex-a-lite.com for a listing of our electric fans, complete with overall dimensions, airflow and amperage draw to help you find the right one of your application.