Computer fan through remote oil cooler?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Weasel, Feb 19, 2019.

  1. I've been trying to think of a use for a fairly chunky computer fan (12v 1amp) and I wondered if there's any merit in trying to use it with my remote oil cooler.
    I thought it might help after long hill climbs or traffic jams but maybe I'm just introducing more complication and problems?
    Anyone done this?
    Of course, sticking anything in the way to impede air might not be a good idea...
     
  2. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Is it a case fan or a processor fan?

    If it's a case fan, is it a Boggo computer case or a server?

    Processor fans only have a small cool air footprint. Server fans work better with some form of ducting else you aren't blowing air 'through' the heat sink/oil cooler, just around it. Standard case fans work by trying to boost pressure in the case and let cool external air in effect replace what's in the case by pressure.

    It's worth a try with some ducting if the oil cooler isn't in a turbulent air area of the engine bay, else I'd nominate it's too much grief, if it's ducted and the fan fails you're kippered.
     
    Weasel likes this.
  3. It’s a case fan from a Sun Microsystems Server. (Probably £400 when it was new because of the purple plastic ducting that was attached to probably £10 fan..)

    I haven’t tried it yet to see how much “blow” it produces but just thinking out loud really.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
  4. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Any idea how old it is? Most server fans are designed for relatively friendly environments without the temperature fluctuations and damp etc of an engine bay.

    At what temp does oil start to break down, as long as you aren't exceeding that does it matter how hot your oil runs?
     
    Weasel likes this.
  5. You're probably right - I'm trying to solve a problem that isn't there. I've seen 120 on the worry-gauge many times and only in the Alps in the summer did it peep over that. I'll find a use for the fans one day.. probably to help the fridge heat out of the van :)
     
  6. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Might be better as a cool air aid for the driver, or more the passenger of in the Alps.
     
    snotty likes this.
  7. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    A proper cooling fan uses more than that, more like a hundred watts
    Even a big server dissipates less than a kilowatt (except in the old days when a single 150MHz HP-PA RISC Apollo server used 3kw..) your bus is pushing out maybe 25kW of heat or more...

    So that fan will help a bit. But you need a lot more air flow. Its why I use an air scoop amd no fan.
     

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