Kendal---The fan shroud, (more properly called a radiator shroud on our
cars,) assures that all air coming thru the grill gets directed to the
radiator. As Peter mentioned, this also keeps most road dirt out of the
engine bay. If you want to keep the radiator fins cleaner the easy way,
cut a piece of the thick, furnace air filter to the shape of the
radiator to catch the bugs and small pebbles that would otherwise get
lodged. These hardware store filters (NOT the kind with the cardboard
frame) can be folded in half and inserted up thru the opening under the
grill, and removed the same way for its yearly hosing off. Much easier
than cleaning the radiator itself! And not visable when behind the
grill.
It seems logical that a fast-turning electric fan would do a better job
of cooling an idling engine, even without a shroud, as John Phillps
pointed out. (Do you have a recipe for butterfly soup? 8~)
Running at the 3/4 mark (195 degrees seems to be the consensus) would be
normal if you had a "winter" thermostat in place. If this temp worries
you, you might check the markings on the unit, and replace it with one
that opens sooner, say at 165.
Dick T
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