I've got a 2000 Durango with the 5.2l engine. The fan clutch has siezed on it, and I'd like to replace it with a flex fan. I took the shroud off last night to see what it would take to do the job. I'm a little confused by what I found.

How do you get the fan off? It looks like there's a big nut on the front of the pulley on the water pump. So you would have to hold the pulley somehow, and remove the nut? I've looked for a picture of this assembly online, but I haven't been able to find one yet.

Once I get the fan off, how would I mount the flex fan? Does the front of the water pump have threaded holes? (what I was expecting to find - not the big nut setup)

Should I just replace the fan clutch, and forget about the flex fan?

The only reason I'm considering the flex fan is to save some gas. I only get 13+ mpg now. If I really baby it, I can get it into the 14 range. Would a flex fan make much of a difference?

 

If you are not planning on towing with your Durango, a flex fan should be okay. Otherwise, nothing can keep an engine cooler than a clutch fan. If you have a good clutch fan that disenages when it does not need additional cooling, your engine won't use as much gas anyways.

 

First of all, I have to apologize for posting this. I didn't find the search function until after I posted. I don't like adding to clutter on a forum if I can avoid it. A lot of the answersI was looking for were already here.

But I still don't know exactly how the flex fan attaches to the water pump. I have the fan and spacer, but it doesn't look like the shaft on the water pump has the four threaded holes like I was expecting - unless they're behind the pulley, which I highly doubt.

Is there another type of spacer made for Dodge engines?

I'm going to another parts store this morning,wherehopefully there will be someone who can help me put this together. The counter help at the store where I bought the fan were justthe"Ifit's not in the book, it doesn't exist" type.