Cooling fans in the winter

[mclasser]

Lately, I've been stuck waiting in some drive thru lines for 5+ minutes. Since this winter has been rather mild, temps are around 40F. While idling in my Accord, the cooling fans kick on every couple of minutes in short bursts. I don't have the defroster or anything running so the A/C compressor is off. Is 40 degrees considered "warm" enough for the cooling fans to run when idling? The only reason I heard the fans was because I had the radio off

 

[horse123]

Radiator fans will run at -50 if the engine is warm enough...

 

[Klutch9]

The other day it was in the upper 20s and I drove nearly an hour to the airport. I parked in the cell phone lot, car still running, and it only took a few minutes for the coolant temp to raise enough for the fans to kick on. Your engine temp will raise quickly with no airflow (i.e. Idling while still).

 

[The_Jeff]

My wife's HHR fan died over winter 2014-15. It still spun, so it wasn't the bearings that froze up. First warm spring traffic jam its failure became evident.

 

[HTSS_TR]

According to Ultra gauge the coolant temperature of my Honda S2000 can increase 20-30F while idling in less than 10 minutes, from 183-186F to 200-210F.

 

[demarpaint]

From what I've seen it's perfectly normal. If the coolant gets hot enough the fans will come on.

 

[gathermewool]

The engine produces heat that can't be removed by losses to ambient, especially if the car has been fully warmed up (the coolant in the radiator is hot). If your car is not moving, air needs to be forced across the radiator.

Unsolicited DB advice: why not park and walk in? Outside of vacation travel fast food, I only eat it 5-10X/year. I'm usually on the road when I eat fast food, and the thought of sitting in more traffic is pretty unappealing; it's nice getting out and stretching my legs while I eat my horrible, disgusting, delicious junk food.

 

[901Memphis]

Yep pretty normal, an engine can easily generate enough heat for that at idle, sometimes my Buick gets up to 215F before the second fan kicks on and maxes out just below 220F.

 

[Nick1994]

Normal. Even when cool out, if I drive 2-3 miles to a drive thru and idle, my fans kick on

 

[Chris142]

Normal

 

[double vanos]

I was reading about Fords' new 1.5L Ecoboost - it has a clutched water pump to aid warm up. Something more to worry about besides the fans...

 

[KrisZ]

That's what these fans are for.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: horse123
Radiator fans will run at -50 if the engine is warm enough...

Yes. This is absolutely true. The G37, for instance, kicks out a lot of heat. Anytime I'm out driving at operating temperatures on the freeway, and then hit the next red light, the cooling fan kicks on a couple seconds later, even on the coldest day of the year.

 

[alcyon]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
That's what these fans are for.

Good One !
Better still, that's what fans are for....sung to the tune of that's what friends are for.

 

[mclasser]

Cool beans. Thanks guys.