In need of some major fan upgrade, as the single stock fan is NOT cutting it in 90F+ weather especially with A/C running. I need to install a slim, dual fan setup which will still have me redesigning my coldside piping. But anyway I'm comparing the mishimoto fans and the FM stage 2 fans. There's about a $130 price difference between them and I'm wondering the the FM fans are really that much better in terms of performance. Anyone ever use them?

 

Fans may not be your issue. Check out this thread:

https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-performance-56/best-methods-cool-down-motor-overheating-issues-49357/

 

Well, I've already got the BEGI reroute, and it did help a little on the highway. In fact I'd say the car runs perfectly cool on the highway with the ac on blast even as hot as 95F out. It only really a problem when I come to a stop. It's the fans (or lack thereof) for sure.

 

Post pictures of your re-route

 

This is the only pic i have available right now. What'd you want to see?

 

I switched from Partzfinder fans back to the stock ones and the car is running much cooler. What radiator are you running, and can you use the stock AC fan, or is your BOV in the way?

C

 

Just to check out what you working with. What are the temps you're seen?

 

Stock fan is WAY to big. I've seen temps as high as 225F idling in traffic with the a/c on. Granted it was over 90F out and in the sun. I've even seen as high as 212F with no A/C once I stopped after beating on it a little. Runs cool as long as I'm moving. Running a stock automatic radiator.

 

I'm sure your setup is different than mine, but by trimming down one arm of the fan frame, I was able to get it to fit, with the big 55mm Koyo. At first glance it looked like I'd never get in in there.




C

 

Crap that's tight! How do you even work on it!? Lemme ask you, does your pipe run behind the swaybar? Between the swaybar and radiator?

 

Yeah, it was a challenge getting it to work. It's the FM kit with the formed silicon charge hoses. I removed the cold side pipe that holds the BOV, and the 90* bend into the manifold, installed the fan, and had to do a few fittings to get everything to fit just right. Even then, everything had to be put together in just the right order, with each clamp in a particular orientation, etc, but it all fits, and so far, there's enough clearance that nothing's touching (thank you MazdaComp engine mounts).

The cold pipe from the IC runs behind the sway bar.

Radiator|fan|swaybar|IC pipe

C

 

I think I might get the slim fans just to make my life easier. I already threw out the stock a/c fan anyway. The FM stage 2 fans are rated at 2800cfm which should be more than sufficient...hopefully.

 

In the same way that DUCTING is important, SHROUDING is impt for fans.

 

Which is why I'm looking at these instead of slapping generic $30 fans from summit.

 

I'm going to give the ghetto method a try.

I just mocked this up.


It's a condensor fan from a Mitsubishi box truck that I grabbed from work. I trimmed the shroud to make it fit. All I need to do now is fill in that open spot on the shroud and re-fab the charge piping.

I powered the fan up next to the stock drivers side fan and holy crap, it's like a tornado compared to the stock fan. Should work quite well I think. And it was free.

 

Hmm. That was unexpected. I am interested to see the results.

 

Mounted the fan. I had to use aluminum tape with a cut up strip from a coolant bottle as a backing to fill in the area that was open from hacking the shroud. Fits beautifully, and the tape is shiny!!! Powered it up on the bench and it blows like a $20 ***** with a $100 bill. I think my cooling system problems are finally over.

Now I'm just trying to finish up the intercooler piping which is turning out to be a real ****. The pipe coming straight down from the throttle body is hitting the swaybar because the 90degree elbow is acting like a spring and pushing the whole thing (including my intercooler) forward. I may use some straps on the bottom of the IC to pull everything back into place. Not exactly how I wanted it but it should be ok.

 

Got everything back together. This fan setup seems to be working really good. After I bled the cooling system I let it run with the fans off and the a/c on until it got to about 215F. Then I turned them on and it brought it down to 180F in just under 2 minutes. Pretty awesome! Granted it was only 77F last night with 100000% humidity, but that wouldn't have happened with the way it was before. So it's supposed to be 90F today, and I plan on torture testing the cooling system in rush hour traffic in the hot sun. Keeping my fingers crossed.