An automotive cooling fan is one of the most important components of any automobile. It may be one of the smaller and simpler components of a vehicle, but its function is critical for the working of any machinery.
When an engine is working, it tends to produce heat energy. If the heat energy being produced is not controlled, then the vehicle’s temperature rises to dangerous levels causing your engine to overheat. This is where a cooling fan comes in. A cooling fan’s job is to control the temperatures of vehicles; it works by providing airflow amongst the radiators. Radiators may overheat because of a lack of coolant, so always keep a radiator stop leak handy. Another cause of overheating may be a faulty water pump, and if that is the case, you should replace your water pump as soon as you can.
In this article, we will be going over the best automotive cooling fans that you can purchase for your vehicle, and we will discuss each of the fans’ specifications in detail.
Top Three Best Automotive Cooling Fans
Best Choice
Thermaltake ToughFan 12
- Speed up to 2000 RPM
- Steel center
- Liquid Crystal Polymer blades
Best in Budget
ARCTIC ACFAN00119A P12
- Low motor temperature
- Facilitated airflow
- Budget-Friendly
How We Made the List
To make this list, we have gone through various options available in the market for the best automotive cooling fans.
If you have a faulty cooling fan, you can try to replace the fan or just buy a new one which is the main focus of this article.
While looking at the options, we have kept various factors in mind, such as build quality, performance, and pricing. We have also made sure to keep our list a comprehensive one that includes feasible options for everyone. This means that you will probably find a fan on this list that will suit you whatever your need. Keep in mind that before buying a fan to fix your issue, you troubleshoot the situation properly and find out whether or not there are any other problems, such as a coolant leak.
Let’s start with our list of the best automotive cooling fans!
Best Automotive Cooling Fans [Reviews]
1. Thermaltake ToughFan 12
Number one on our list is the Thermaltake ToughFan 12. It is one of the more premium options on our list and is the way to go if budget is not an issue for you while purchasing a cooling fan.
At the heart of the Thermaltake ToughFan 12 is performance. The fan is PWM controlled; this allows the fan to perform up to speeds of 2000 RPM. This level of speed allows for excellent cooling performance and is sure to keep temperatures under control throughout your ride.
The blades of the fan consist of high-quality engineering; they are built of liquid crystal polymer, and this material works well to control the fan’s vibration. This is especially important considering the speeds at which the fan goes.
There is also a good amount of focus on the materials the fan is built. The center of the fan is a steel component that holds everything in place. This steel component increases the durability of the fan and its performance.
The fan looks and feels premium, performs well, and does not make much noise, making it the perfect option for anyone looking for the best cooling fan.
Features
- Speed up to 2000 RPM
- Steel center
- Liquid Crystal Polymer blades
Pros
- High-level performance
- Durability
- Stable performance
Cons
- May not be affordable for everyone
2. Noctua NF-F12 PWM
The Noctua NF-F12 is one of the most popular automotive cooling fans in the market, and for a good reason. The Noctua-F12 has a lot going for it.
The Noctua-F12 has one of the best build designs that makes it fit for many different body types. It has a slim build that will let you install it in your vehicle even if you have a liquid cooling system. The fan also makes use of what Noctua calls a Focused Flow Frame. This frame allows for high static pressure. To make things better, the noise performance of the fan is also extremely low, making the fan an even more enticing option. The fan offers premium-level performance but is at the same time energy-efficient, using only 0.5W to operate.
The fan has a 4-pin PWM edition. This allows for the speed to be controlled automatically. There is also a wide range of speeds at which the fan operates. This speed ranges from 300-1500 RPM. However, if you decide to use the noise adapter, the maximum you can reach is 1200 RPM.
The fan also comes with several things inside the box, such as a noise adapter that makes the sound of the fan even lower than it already is.
Features
- Focused Flow Frame
- 4-pin PWM
- Award-winning
Pros
- Great noise performance
- Accessories included inbox
- Great build design
Cons
- Not the most preferable for air-cooled systems
3. ARCTIC ACFAN00119A P12
If you’re on a budget and are looking for the best cooling fan in a very reasonable price range, then the ARTIC ACFAN00119A P12 is perfect.
The main thing that this fan has going for it is static pressure. The fan was engineered to facilitate the airflow and have a great amount of static pressure. The range for the fan’s speed starts from 200 RPM and ends at 1800 RPM. The ARTIC ACFAN00119A offers some of the best performance and does not take up a lot of energy. Efficient performance is also one of the main focuses of this fan. The fan’s motor operates at a relatively low temperature which helps in increasing the longevity of the fan itself.
However, some sacrifices will have to be made considering the price point. Firstly, the fan does not offer the quietest noise and is on the loud side. The low price also means that the quality of the build isn’t all that good and is susceptible to damage.
Even after keeping these issues in mind, the ARTIC ACFAN00119A is one of the best options you can have for a cooling fan at this price point as it offers performance that fans almost more than twice the price offer.
Features
- Low motor temperature
- Facilitated airflow
Pros
- Very affordable
- Great static pressure
Cons
- Cheap quality build
4. Corsair ML120 Pro
The Corsair ML120 Pro is a great option for anyone looking to buy a cooling fan that has great features for their vehicle.
The fan has a magnetic bearing. This magnetic bearing allows for better noise performance and power performance. Corsair has made use of a custom design for their rotor that aims to find the right combination of the flow of the air and the pressure.
In the range of the fan, the maximum speed that the fan is going up to is 2000 RPM. One thing to keep in mind is that if you have a higher level of performance, then the fan tends to get a bit noisy. You can cancel out this noise by lowering the fan’s speed.
The fan also has an option to install LED lights on it which might interest you if you were looking for a fan with this option. The box does not come with accessories other than the mounting screw, so keep that in mind.
If you are looking for something well-built and has some fancy features, then this is an option you should consider.
Features
- Magnetic Bearing
- Custom Rotor
- Optional LEDs
Pros
- Great build quality
- Balance between airflow and static pressure
Cons
- Maybe a bit loud at times
5. be quiet! Silent Wings 3
The be quiet! Silent Wings 3 offers some of the best sound performance in the market. As the name suggests, the fan’s main focus is to be as noiseless as possible.
The fan makes use of many different things to achieve its goal. Firstly, the case of the fan is made with rubber and has mountings that prevent any vibrations. The fan has seven blades that are all carefully engineered and angled to keep the noise low even when the fan is operating at high speed.
The be quiet! Silent Wings 3 also has another variant of a higher speed. However, it does have a worse sound performance which is understandable. When getting these fans, one thing to keep in mind is that they are not very suitable for handling extremely high temperatures.
So, if you want some of the best sound performances in the market, be quiet! Silent Wings 3 is the way to go!
Features
- Rubberized casing
- Angled blades
Pros
- Top of the line sound performance
- Durable
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy-duty
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Automotive Cooling Fan
Cooling system
It is important to keep in mind the cooling system you have installed in your vehicle. The choice of your fan can vary greatly depending on whether you have a liquid-cooled system or an air-cooled system. Both of the cooling systems require different things from the cooling fans, which means that you will have to find out whether or not the fan you are buying is suitable for your cooling system.
Blades
Always consider the number of blades that a fan has while purchasing. We think that the bare minimum number of blades that a fan must-have is four. We believe that anything less than four will not be able to provide your vehicle with the sufficient amount of performance that it needs.
Usually, the more blades a fan has, the more efficient it is. So, look for a fan with a higher number of blades and one that makes good use of its blades by having them properly angled and positioned.
Single/ Dual Fan
For most engine types, a single fan is more than enough to get the job done. However, if you have a vehicle that has a larger-than-average engine, you may want to consider having a dual fan setup. A dual fan setup is also useful in cases where the engine has been modified to provide higher performance levels.
Keeping this in mind, it is also important to note that there is space only for 1 fan in some cars. In a case such as this, make sure that you are not tinkering with your engine to the point that it gives off extremely high temperatures since that will be difficult for a single fan to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions for Best Automotive Cooling Fans
- When should I replace my automotive cooling fan?
Ans. You should be looking to replace your vehicle’s cooling fan if you notice your engine overheating. An overheated engine causes many issues for the entirety of the vehicle, and they are not safe for anyone in the car. If you notice consistent issues with your vehicle’s temperature, you should look to replace its fan immediately.
High temperatures also damage other parts of the vehicle and decrease the engine’s durability.
- Why is my automotive cooling fan not working?
Ans. There could be many reasons why your vehicle’s cooling fan isn’t working anymore.
One of the most common reasons that we have seen is a blown fuse. In this case, get your mechanic to replace the fan’s fuse for you.
Most modern fans are now controlled with the help of a temperature sensor. If you find that your cooling fan is not working properly, then it may be that the temperature sensor of your vehicle is not working anymore. In a case like this, try to get the sensor replaced immediately.
There can also be other issues, such as a low coolant level or a wiring issue. You may be losing out on your coolant because of a radiator leak.
Whatever the problem is, get your fan checked by a professional as soon as possible since a cooling fan is one of the most important components of a vehicle.
Conclusion
In this article, we have gone over some of the best options available in the market for an automotive cooling fan. We talked about how we made the list, and then we discussed five of the best options that we feel are suitable for each person’s particular need.
Remember that you will have to choose your cooling fan according to your own need, so treat this list more as a subjective list rather than an objective, and you will be good to go. Keep the things to consider that we talked about in mind when making your purchase, and you will surely end up buying the right product for your needs.
