Flex-a-lite at the 2011 SEMA Show
Whether you missed the 2011 SEMA show or you’re already longing for the gleam of new products and dull roar of thousands of fellow auto enthusiasts talking shop, we have a video tour of the Flex-a-lite® booth at this year’s show to fill your needs. Read more…
How to Install an Electric Fan Controller
Perhaps one of the least understood parts of adding an electric fan to a vehicle is installing and wiring the controller. The Flex-a-lite adjustable temperature controller turns the electric fan on and off according to the coolant temperature, and you can adjust where the fan turns on from approximately 180-240 degrees F. No relays are required if you use our controller with our electric fan. Wiring the controller is simple, and following our directions will give you years and years of trouble-free operation. Read more…
Keeping Your Jeep Wrangler Auto Tranny Cool
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. Read more…
Flex-a-lite in Norway, Fjord Sure!
While most car enthusiasts have heard of Hot August Nights in Reno, we stumbled across the European version: Hot August Nights in Trondheim, Norway! While most visitors to Trondheim are likely to check out the Nidaros Cathederal, catch a concert at Rockheim or jump in a boat and explore the beautiful scenery along the Fjords, we were checking out Fords, Chevys and a host of other American hot rods and muscle cars at this great event.
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!
Will Ram Air Burn Up My Electric Fan?
This is an interesting question that we get asked at Flex-a-lite from time to time. When you’re driving on the highway, will the ram air cause your electric fan to spin, damaging it? A lot of people argue that the fan becomes a generator when it’s spun by ram air, and they worry that this can damage the motor or electronic controller components. The answer is, no, ram air won’t burn up your fan or the electronic controller, and here’s why. Read more…
How Flex-a-Fit Radiator Sidetanks Provide Better Cooling
Did you know that there is more to the Flex-a-Fit sidetank design than the T channels on the outside? Sure, these make mounting the radiator, electric fan, overflow tank and other components easy, but they also provide a boost in heat transfer, aka cooling! Read more…
Newest Flex-a-lite Product Protects Your Cooling System and Helps Keep Your Engine Cool
Flex-a-lite® introduces its first-ever engine-coolant additive. Flex-a-chill delivers cooling and protection that reduces the temperature of the cylinder heads without the need of additional coolant gels. With a lower PH level (8.5) than many competing products, Flex-a-chill is designed specifically to protect your expensive aluminum engine parts and radiator from electrolysis that corrodes the parts from the inside out. The formula also contains organic compounds that will prevent contaminates such as calcium and magnesium from developing into scales that clog your cooling system. Flex-a-chill is a “bubble buster” for the water in your cooling system, providing improved contact, and better contact means better heat transfer by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Read more…
Electric Cooling Fan Temperature Probe How To
Flex-a-lite’s most popular fan controllers are adjustable between 160 and 240 degrees. These controllers are operated by a probe that can either be put in the core of the radiator fins or the radiator inlet. Putting the probe into the radiator fins is accurate, does not require any special tools and, when done correctly, will not damage your radiator core. You’ve probably been taught that radiator cores are delicate and you shouldn’t touch them. The truth is that, while you do need to be careful, it’s easier than you might think to push one of our temperature-sensing probes into the radiator without causing any problems at all. This short video features the owner of Flex-a-lite, Lisa Chissus, showing exactly how it’s done.
Tips for a successful fan controller installation:
- Position the probe close to the coolant inlet (top of radiator)
- Insert the probe until there is about an inch remaining outside of the core
- Don’t insert and remove the probe in the same position several times
- Route the temperature probe and all wires before mounting the controller to make sure everything will reach
- Always run the positive and negative leads from the controller directly to the battery
As always, you can call our tech line at 253-922-2700 if you have more questions.
This is a little more newsy than our usual articles, but it’s all about one of the longest-lasting brand names in the automotive performance industry; Flex-a-lite! Cascade Plastics, MariSource and Flex-a-lite have now merged into one corporation named CFM Consolidated Inc.
CFM Consolidated has been manufacturing products since 1963 and is owned and operated by Lisa Chissus. CFM Consolidated is a woman-owned business – certified by the state of Washington – providing inspiration for women in business. Read more…
A Quick Test to See if Your Electric Fan Sucks
Here’s a quick test to see if you’ve wired your electric fan to draw air the correct direction through your radiator, and to get a rough idea of whether it is pulling enough air to keep your car cool. All you need is a sheet of 8.5×11 inch paper, a fully-charged battery and a short safety check list.
Turn the power to the fan on (you may have to temporarily install a manual override switch, or bring your engine up to temperature so the thermostat turns on the fan). Make sure the engine is turned off for your safety. Place the sheet of paper on the side of the radiator opposite of the fan.
If it stays in place, you’ve wired the fan with the correct polarity, and the fan is moving pretty good air through the radiator.
If it blows off, you have the fan wired backwards.
If it doesn’t blow off the radiator, but it slowly falls away, the fan isn’t pulling enough air through the radiator. There can be quite a few causes for that, which we cover in the video.
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