S3 Fan Position Query ??

[DJ8226]

Hello guys having a bit of a ??? moment, I will try to explain... after having removed my radiator and holding frame including the fan (mounted in front of the rad behind the bonnet grille)to clean and paint the chassis beneath the position of the fan got me thinking. To cut to the chase the back of the fan faces the rad and the fins face forwards which in my mind blows air the wrong way. But when I spin the fan by hand it does blow air backwards towards the rad which makes sense to cool it. I assume the angle of the blades are such that it does this. Its never been off before but it just got me scratching my head. It won't fit the other way so it must be right. Is this a normal TVRism? I will add that it does work and cools the car down when it kicks in. Do I need a slap for thinking to deep?!? Maybe its Plus gas fumes getting to me.....?

[Gerald-TVR]

S1 and S2 fan fitted on engine side of radiator sucking air through the rad. S3 and later fan fitted on opposite side of rad blowing air through the rad. Not sure if there are any benefits on either configuration

[phillpot]

Fans will normally "blow" a lot better than they will "suck" so (IMHO) better to push air rather than try to pull it through the resistance of the radiator.

[DJ8226]

Thanks for your views guys. Its all back together now. Swirl and pipes tomorrow if SWMBO cuts me some slack

[mycroft]

Had read somewhere that some early fans were set up to suck mounted in front of the rad .
Have a feeling they didn't work very well .
Later cars with fan mounted on the back of the rad helping pull the air through completely cured any cooling issues .

[Gerald-TVR]

mycroft said:

Later cars with fan mounted on the back of the rad helping pull the air through completely cured any cooling issues .

But then they moved it back

[phillpot]

mycroft said:

Had read somewhere that some early fans were set up to suck mounted in front of the rad .
Have a feeling they didn't work very well .

Wouldn't think it did !

Ok when stationary ( even then pulling hot air from around engine rather than ambient ) but no chance when moving, would be fighting against natural air flow created by speed of car.

[mycroft]

Gerald-TVR said:

mycroft said:

Later cars with fan mounted on the back of the rad helping pull the air through completely cured any cooling issues .

But then they moved it back

No Norman its me getting confused again , i must have read that some early cars had fans on the back of the rad pushing , same result . later cars fan on front .
I blame the fact i no longer have a car in the garage to refer to ,