After driving in direct sunlight, the engine malfunction light suddenly turns on? Is the temperature of the water tank approaching the red line? Don't just blame the hot weather! It may be a problem with the silicone oil fan clutch hidden in the engine fan! This small device, which 99% of car owners have never heard of, can be called the "cooling control valve" of the engine. Once it fails, it can cause the car to have a high fever in minutes!
The core function of the silicone oil fan clutch is to provide intelligent temperature control for the engine. Traditional fans are driven directly by the engine, running at full capacity regardless of temperature, which wastes power and increases noise. The silicone oil fan clutch is like a "temperature control switch", filled with special silicone oil and monitored for engine temperature through temperature sensing elements: when the water temperature is below 85 ℃, the clutch disengages and the fan rotates at low speed or does not rotate; Once the water temperature exceeds 95 ℃, the silicone oil expands and pushes the clutch to engage, causing the fan to instantly run at high speed and increasing heat dissipation efficiency by 40%! Simply put, it allows the fan to "rest when it's time to rest, and apply force when it's time to apply force", saving fuel and being silent.
How important is this technology for engine lifespan? The Teyu fan clutch indicates that a normally functioning silicone oil fan clutch can accelerate the cooling rate of the water tank by 30% and reduce water pump wear by 20%! Old driver's tearful lesson: A car owner discovered that the water temperature of the vehicle soared while climbing, and upon inspection, it was found that the clutch had failed due to silicone oil leakage, causing the engine to pull out. The repair cost was as high as 20000 yuan! More commonly, clutch failure can cause the fan to run at low speed for a long time, resulting in an inexplicable increase in fuel consumption of 5% -8%. In summer, when the air conditioning is turned on, the power noticeably weakens.
There are three main natural enemies of silicone oil fan clutch: high temperature causing silicone oil to deteriorate and become thinner, aging and oil leakage of seals; After long-term use, the sensitivity of the temperature sensing element decreases; Poor quality antifreeze corrodes the internal structure of the clutch. When the engine frequently heats up, the fan does not turn or runs at high speed, and even a burning smell can be smelled, be alert to clutch failure!
Teyu Fan Clutch Reminder: Check the condition of silicone oil every 60000 kilometers, the replacement cost is about 300-800 yuan, but it can avoid engine overhaul! The clutch positions of different car models are different (mostly between the fan and water pump shaft), and it is recommended to have professional personnel disassemble and assemble them. Next time you drive on a hot day, don't forget to thank this small component for silently "controlling temperature"!