The device that engages and disengages the radiator fan is referred to as the radiator fan clutch. Some vehicles, especially those with an engine driven fan, utilize a fan clutch to reduce the load on the engine at lower cooling requirements. At cooler temperatures or low load conditions, the fan clutch isolates the fan from the drive system of the engine, allowing it to turn freely or at suboptimal speeds. This results in lower engine torque and improved fuel efficiency. When reserve engine power is available, the fan clutch is engaged and the fan is driven at the same speed as the engine’s accessory belt drive. Sometimes this is referred to as the clutch type fan. There are other forms of clutches, such as thermal controlled and viscous type, that respond to engine temperature and cooling requirements in different ways.
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