3.5 Fan Clutch OEM or Aftermarket

[PirateMcGee]

Looks like the fan clutch may be near the end of its life on my Sport. Temp is fine when cruising along but creeps up when idling (not over heating just warmer than normal). Clutch free spins when cold but when it's fully warmed it has some resistance but not really locked up either.

Anyways, is this a part where OEM really is better or are aftermarket (i.e. duralast) just as good? $150 price difference.

 

[freewayross]

Hit up the salvage yards... plenty of sports around.

 

[normal_dave]

On many items, I want OEM. But I've had very good luck over the years with Hayden fan clutches on other vehicles, haven't had to put one on our Mitsus yet. Appears the Duralast version uses a partial Hayden number.

Rock Auto shows $ 36.89 for their Hayden 2654.

Also read where you can buy a silicone refill kit and service your OEM if it isn't too far gone.

 

[Toasty]

A new aftermarket part every year just outside warranty or an overheated engine isn't worth the "savings" of buying aftermarket. Go OEM Aisin or have an aftermarket part fail right after you tell someone how reliable your Montero is. If you can't afford new OEM find a low milage junkyard part or change the fluid in your old fan clutch.

 

[PirateMcGee]

A new aftermarket part every year just outside warranty or an overheated engine isn't worth the "savings" of buying aftermarket. Go OEM Aisin or have an aftermarket part fail right after you tell someone how reliable your Montero is. If you can't afford new OEM find a low milage junkyard part or change the fluid in your old fan clutch.

Aisin doesn't make a fan clutch for the Montero. Normally I agree on OEM but I don't think Mitsu makes the fan clutch themselves so I'm trying to find the OEM equivalent.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Just an FYI, Hayden and Four Seasons are the OEM suppliers for many vehicles, I have ran them on all of my vehicles without issue including the Montero.

 

[Toasty]

The older OEM fan clutches definitely have AISIN cast into them, but you are correct my new one does not have AISIN cast into it but it is identical to my original one. On a side note i recently bought TWO OEM Mitsubishi timing tensioners. One had NTN cast into the body like always and the other was blank. Both were the exact same part number and came in a Mitsubishi bag. Also my new OEM Mitsubishi timing belt was a Gates/Mitsubishi and not a Mitsuboshi belt, starting to make me wonder. I will be hella pissed if my new timing tensioner ****s the bed in 30k miles like the aftermarket ones are known to do. I hope it's not a sign of the Mitsubishi parts network drying up.

 

[bryAWD]

I've noticed recently that in traffic my temps will rise up towards the top of the "temperature icon". When driving normally the temp stays just below halfway. Just in traffic or if its hilly. Maybe I should look into replacing my fan clutch as well?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I've noticed recently that in traffic my temps will rise up towards the top of the "temperature icon". When driving normally the temp stays just below halfway. Just in traffic or if its hilly. Maybe I should look into replacing my fan clutch as well?

Try removing it, scrubbing it with soap and water, and reinstalling it. If it's not leaking a lot of people are able to get another year or two out of the clutch by doing this. Another thing to do that has not been mentioned is cleaning out the cooling stack, this term is used when referring to the radiator and A/C units where dead bugs get caught in the fins of the cooling units and also build up in the space between them, often reducing your cooling ability by up to 30% or so. And if you have never removed your radiator and flushed it really well since owning your vehicle it would be a great thing to do anyway. Both topics are covered online if you want to know more via a search.