Yellow fan/black fan deductions?

Gentlemen: the issue of the acceptability of the Jaguar-provided black fan in place of the earlier white fan seems to hinge on two issues: 1) is the replacement fan listed in the parts book? (Answer: it is: it is part number EBC 4553. It is the ONLY fan that Jaguar will supply in place of the obsolete white EAC 3265; I can fax the part list containing this to anyone interested) 2) is this a renewable item such as a battery, a light bulb, etc. (my answer: definitely; it is a safety and function issue. The white fans become yellowed and brittle over time and with heat; they crack and are prone to breakage at high RPM, causing significant damage to the cooling system and the bonnet and grille, and quite possible causing an accident.
Every single original white fan will suffer these effects in time.
To require a V12 entrant to retain a yellowed, cracked fan because it was the one the car came with (remember, white fans are NOT avalable for the V12 cars), guarantees problems of all sorts. A bit like requiring the owner to keep the same battery the car came with because replacement batteries look different. I always support originality except when reason argues otherwise. In this case, it is NOT possible to keep the V12 cars on the road with the original white fans; if Jaguar begins to make the V12 fan in white again, that will be a different story.

Gregory Andrachuk
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
1966 Mark 2 3.8
2002 X-Type

Edited on 2005-05-19 15:35:44

Well, if anything I feel better about my question not having an "obvious" answer. I'm guessing that coathanger I have holding my exhuast pipe is a no-no also. :)

Oh, since I own a V12 car, I was unaware the "white" fans were even still available for the non-V12 cars. Thanks for the clarification on that.

Tom Kipp
89 XJ-S Coupe

Just to throw in my 2 cents, you would think that the owner (if after serious champ points) would go to the trouble to have the black fans painted the correct color...and I don't just mean a can of Krylon. If done properly (no runs or blisters, and evenly applied), then a judge would have a hard time determining the original from these. At the same time, common sense should prevail in this matter. Other than touching, a judge shouldn't be able to tell the difference, and the owner should be given the benefit of the doubt. Or if the black ones are shown, the owner should be prepared with a Jaguar document showing that the black fan is an official replacement. Only a vengeful, heavy-handed judge would deduct for these. IMHO

Patrick McLoad
1966 E-Type, Right-hand Drive Roadster
#1E1445

The rule book states EXACT specifications of the original part. To allow later Jaguar produced parts would open a can of worms that could never be closed!! Stew, I don't recall saying anything about the wiper arms being on the expendable list and you're right about the wiper blades not being mentioned.

Yes, in speaking about a black fan, I am referring to the only available OEM fan for the V12 engines. The original questioner mentioned the xj6 and the XJS; I should have expanded my answer. For the xj6, the OEM replacement fan IS available in white; for the V12, it is BLACK.
With regard to originality and concours acceptablity, when Jaguar supersedes a part for a specific application (and when the originally supplied part is not available), then that IS the correct part; the black V12 fan is the part now in the parts manuals or dealer parts lists. Jaguar does not make or supply, for example, small Japanese AC compressors for the XJ saloons to replace the original Harrison units. The Harrison A6 units are still available new, or can be rebuilt, so these are the only units acceptable for championship showing. This is a completely different situation from the original white V12 fans, which are not repairable, and not available, and which have been officially superseded by Jaguar, and are supplied by them.

Gregory Andrachuk
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
1966 Mark 2 3.8
2002 X-Type

Gregory, are you sure about the white plastic fans being NLA? I bought one from the local dealer a couple of years ago, and both XKs Unlimited and Jagbits still show them as available. I refer to Part #EAC3266, which is the XJ 6 cylinder item. Perhaps you are referring to the 12 cylinder fan?

Doug Ingram
Victoria BC Canada
1987 Series III XJ6 VDP

Bob,
I agree with you 100%, but I've heard many talk about a mysterious list of expendables, but have never seen it in the rule book, in one place, although tyres and batteries are talked about in different places. You told me once that windscreen wipers (blades and arms?) are also expendible, but I've yet to find that in the rulebook.
Stew Cleave
JOCO Chief Judge
'69 E-Type 2+2 and other LBC's

Replacement parts, regardless of manufacturer, are acceptable only if they meet the exact specificationsof the original item or material. 2005 JCNA rulebook, Chapter 6 paragraph A

The white fan turned yellow as part of the same aging process that caused the cracking. A cracked fan is a major safety concern; it falls into the same realm of replaceable items as tires, battery, light bulbs...the correct replacement OEM fan is an improved version (longer blades, smaller hub) in black. This is the correct item for the V12 engines either in the XJS or the Series III V12, and it is not a point deduction item. Most importantly, the original white fan is not available as a replacement.

Gregory Andrachuk
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
1966 Mark 2 3.8
2002 X-Type