89VG30 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 The first fan clutch I replaced in my '89 was at about 70K miles and I purchased one that had a lifetime warranty so I got a free one at about 140K, 210K, and 280K, but the one at 280K had a higher temp setting than previous clutches and combined with the higher temp thermostat (170 farenheit 76.5 celsius) that nissan now specifies for my '89, I have at least one cracked head, (water droplets and chocolate milk looking oil in the oil filler cap). My vehicle came with a 155 degree farenheit (68 celsius) thermostat and mating fan clutch and had run perfect with that combo. I don't think it would do any good to have a 155 t-stat with a fan clutch that doesn't start pulling air thru the radiator till the air temp hits 190, so what I would like to do is find a good 155 degree t-stat and modify the copper thermal coil on a new fan clutch to match. Any help in locating a 155 t-stat for my '89VG30i would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, 89VG30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94extreme Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 dealer, autozone...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 i doubt it was the fact you had a 170 degree t-stat that warped your head. most people run 170 or 180 and are fine as long as the cooling system is working properly. the head wouldnt crack at that temperature range anyways. if your head is cracked, dont you think you should replace that too btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) 155 was not origianl for the tbi. the VG engine does not reach full efficiency untill 180. a 170 & 175 are used to form a thermal equilibrium @ 180. 165 was an option for hotter climates and 180 was an option for colder climates. The 300zx guys that think they're getting more power by over cooling their engning ran 160's but 155 is just rediculous. I run a 175 in my 89 VG30i, thats what the old one was(had nissan factory stamp on it) and so thats what I put back in. EDIT: More food for thought; I beilve the chevy 350 in LS and LT form found their greatest efficiency @ an equilibrium of 200-210 acheived by running a 180 deg thermostat. Edited June 29, 2009 by MY1PATH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 I haveat least one cracked head, (water droplets and chocolate milk looking oil in the oil filler cap). If so, I'd say that the thermostat/fan clutch is the least of the immediate concerns. Who's to say it isn't just a head gasket? That is far more common and at 280k, understandable... MY1PATH stated good information. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89VG30 Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 If so, I'd say that the thermostat/fan clutch is the least of the immediate concerns. Who's to say it isn't just a head gasket? That is far more common and at 280k, understandable... MY1PATH stated good information. B I'm fairly sure it's a cracked head because I had gotten into stop and go traffic for about 8 miles, (about 1 hour) and had finally noticed the temp gauge pegged, pulled into a car wash with the engine making terribly awful sounds and waited about another hour to put water in it. This was with a new fan clutch from O'reilly's (Kool Clutch). I noticed later with the rad full of water, the temp gauge indicating overheating, that the fan was only doing about 15 rpm and I showed the guy at the parts store that I could stop the fan with my finger and spin the fan in the opposite direction it should have been going. Shouldn't the fan clutch be engaged with water that hot flowing thru the rad and the air temp so high? At the present time I'm collecting parts to rebuild the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89VG30 Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 i doubt it was the fact you had a 170 degree t-stat that warped your head. most people run 170 or 180 and are fine as long as the cooling system is working properly. the head wouldnt crack at that temperature range anyways. if your head is cracked, dont you think you should replace that too btw? Most definitly getting rebuilt heads. and I may have to live with a 170 t-stat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89VG30 Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 dealer, autozone...? My latest t-stat is 76.5C,170F dealer, did have O'reilly fan clutch but now dealer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastpath Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 honestly 170 should be fine. im in Az and my needle is a bit before where the halfway mark is even in 110 degree weather (except for right now, but I that has been a problem only since I redid my heads so I know there is something else wrong) instead of getting a new fan clutch you could do the taurus fan mod, that will definitely keep it cooler. probably cost about the same too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89VG30 Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 honestly 170 should be fine. im in Az and my needle is a bit before where the halfway mark is even in 110 degree weather (except for right now, but I that has been a problem only since I redid my heads so I know there is something else wrong) instead of getting a new fan clutch you could do the taurus fan mod, that will definitely keep it cooler. probably cost about the same too. When my path was new my needle ran between 1/4-1/3, now it runs like yours. I have a Haynes manual that recommends the 155 t-stat. Don't know about the taurus mod but will check into it. Thanks for your input and everyone else's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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