I notice that once the fan clutch warms up my truck shifts smoother. I am also wondering how often I should change my distributor cap.

 

The clutch fan warming up would not affect shifting. Check yuor woner's manual for maintenence schedules.

 

thx

 

Maybe its just timing. By the time the clutch fan has warmed up, the tranny has too. Most trannys shift better when the oil has warmed up a little. Just a guess.

Paul.

 

I just hope the tranny is ok till i get a new filter in it lol.

 

I've noticed that the fans are real load when cold. My neighbor has a Durango and whe he gets in a drives by the fan is very loud. On his return trip you can't hear it. I have the same issue on my Dakota. For the first 100 yards, there is fan noise, then it goes away.

 

yea the fan noise is normal i wouldnt worry about it

 

That is because the motor is still cold. When the motor hasn't reached the normal operating temperature, the timing is advanced and the motor will idle higher. The fan would appear louder due to the engine working more at idle than it would at normal operating temp.

 

ok that makes sense, but then why do i only get this "louder" fan in the winter and its never there in the summer, i know it doesnt get as cold in the summer, but it still gets 'cold' by comparison to operating temps

 

I've heard that its the silicon fluid in the fan clutch. Its ment to get thicker as it get hotter, to engage the fan but when the engine is left long enough (normally over night), the fluid drains to the bottom of the unit, causing the fan to engage. A couple of quick revs and the fluid is flung to its proper place in the unit which disengages the fan untill the engine gets really hot.
I read this off the site of a fan clutch manufacuter, can't remember who though! This is perfetly normal.

Paul