Thermal Management Part 2: SPAL Fans

The stock fans do a decent job on a stock engine. They can even do a nearly decent job on a turbocharged engine. The biggest problem apart from the lack of blowing power is the amount of real estate space they occupy especially with a thicker radiator in place of the stock puny 16mm single core radiator. Couple that with the physically large (larger than an equivalent Garrett) BorgWarner EFR 6258 and the lack of space becomes a nightmare especially the proximity of the mostly plastic fan to the hot side of the turbine. Picture below shows the space (lack of) with my Mishimoto radiator and the stock fans fitted.

With the radiator pushed forward as much as possible. Too say I was worried would be an understatement.

It got to the point where I was actually thinking of blowing yet more of my fast depleting budget and have a custom radiator designed and made by the likes of PWR that would be thicker than the stock puny 16mm single core radiator but thinner than my Mishimoto's 36mm double core. A lot of ado and money for nothing :(

Luckily Toby came to the rescue and fitted a pair of SPAL fans. GT Auto has recently become a dealer for SPAL, an Italian manufacturer of automotive cooling fans. SPAL makes a wide range of fans and caters for both the OEM and aftermarket. SPAL has been designing and producing automotive cooling fans and centrifugal blowers since 1959 hence with more than 50 years of experience their products are quality and leading edge. Picture below of my fans. Both fans are still of the original puller type as per stock and have a diameter of 12" or 305mm. Each fan is individually balanced for long life. Motors and electrical connectors are waterproof.

The fan on the left in the picture above (nearer to the alternator) has a smaller motor and comes from SPAL's Medium Profile range. Part number is VA10-AP50. Fan weighs bout 1.5 kg and is capable of flowing 1097 CFM.

The fan with the larger deeper motor comes from SPAL's High Performance range and is capable of flowing double the VA10-AP50 or 2190 CFM. Part number is VA10-AP70. This fan serves as the primary cooling fan. Weight is approximately 2.33kg.

The big badass fan motor.

Curved aerodynamically designed fan blades for reduced noise and increased airflow.

Much more clearance and this is with the radiator back to stock position.

The SPAL fans really work a treat. Both are activated by the ECU and every time the fans activate, temps come down approx 3-5 degrees as indicated by my AIM dash. However even with the SPAL fans and Mishimoto radiator there are still cooling performance gains to be made. For one thing need to seal the big gap between the radiator and radiator top support beam. A fan shroud like the Mishimoto fan shroud kit with me SPAL fans in place of the crappy Mishi ones would also be nice but more fabrication work. The idea here is to force as much air as possible to travel through the radiator.

And.... as promised from Part 1, here's a pic of my Sikky Manufacturing Thermalnator high temperature shielding gasket installed. It's the orangey (looks pinkish in the picture) thing between the cylinder head and the inlet manifold.