Mark Saiger
Mr Happy!
Hey everyone...
First, just to let you know the events that took place so I discovered all of this.
2011 GMC Van running rough (65,000 miles, 2060 hours on Butler)
Changed plugs and wires....needed...
Didn't solve problem...
This is the van that had all the Fuel pump issues that GM finally acknowledged there were problems (I just received a check for $1,583.76 from GM this week for what I spent out of my pocket after warranty)
Checked fuel pressure....OK
Next, Injector flush which will also clean out catalytic converter if plugging up....Not the problem yet. No kinks or dents in the exhaust....
Saw a belt on the Butler v belts and pulleys up front starting to separate...which I was leaning towards a bad belt all along (which can cause the weird vibrations) and then lack of cooling can start taking out fan belts too...
SO.... IT WAS the Fan Clutch! It finally went bad enough during all the other tuning and testing that we were able to discover the bearing of it starting to go bad.
Butler uses a NON THERMAL fan on this unit. They use an after market fan, and just mill it down a bit where the bolts fit....to get the van on the road, we used a 94 GMC fan clutch, ground a bit by the bolts, and retap, and we had a fan on the van....But it was a THERMAL fan.
Talking to Butler...and the R&D at Butler....they said "we really would prefer that you do not run the Butler right now without the proper fan clutch...and we are shipping it next day air for you Mark"
But why not use this fan clutch?
Butler told me "the fan and design of it is meant to not only cool the van motor, but to cool ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VAN" meaning cooling the Transmission I would imagine, the fuel pump, the catalytic converter....all the way to the back
So, I learned a lot about how much time Butler puts into making sure the VEHCILE/POWERPLANT of the entire package is protected and put together for longevity!
Kudos to them....
They do so many things I never knew about and this is just another reason, I am so Butler loyal!
Also, if you want a bit more info, when GM went to the 6.0 liter motor, GM went from a 5/8 " shaft on the water pump to a 1/2" shaft. Butler knew you can't get a perfect balanced fan and clutch, but they knew the right flex fan would help to cool and promote longevity of the water pump.
Oh, and other rumors about the GM vans going away in a year or so....we are talking more like 2020 I have heard before even considering making a platform change....
This educational moment brought to you today by Mark Saiger
First, just to let you know the events that took place so I discovered all of this.
2011 GMC Van running rough (65,000 miles, 2060 hours on Butler)
Changed plugs and wires....needed...
Didn't solve problem...
This is the van that had all the Fuel pump issues that GM finally acknowledged there were problems (I just received a check for $1,583.76 from GM this week for what I spent out of my pocket after warranty)
Checked fuel pressure....OK
Next, Injector flush which will also clean out catalytic converter if plugging up....Not the problem yet. No kinks or dents in the exhaust....
Saw a belt on the Butler v belts and pulleys up front starting to separate...which I was leaning towards a bad belt all along (which can cause the weird vibrations) and then lack of cooling can start taking out fan belts too...
SO.... IT WAS the Fan Clutch! It finally went bad enough during all the other tuning and testing that we were able to discover the bearing of it starting to go bad.
Butler uses a NON THERMAL fan on this unit. They use an after market fan, and just mill it down a bit where the bolts fit....to get the van on the road, we used a 94 GMC fan clutch, ground a bit by the bolts, and retap, and we had a fan on the van....But it was a THERMAL fan.
Talking to Butler...and the R&D at Butler....they said "we really would prefer that you do not run the Butler right now without the proper fan clutch...and we are shipping it next day air for you Mark"
But why not use this fan clutch?
Butler told me "the fan and design of it is meant to not only cool the van motor, but to cool ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VAN" meaning cooling the Transmission I would imagine, the fuel pump, the catalytic converter....all the way to the back
So, I learned a lot about how much time Butler puts into making sure the VEHCILE/POWERPLANT of the entire package is protected and put together for longevity!
Kudos to them....
They do so many things I never knew about and this is just another reason, I am so Butler loyal!
Also, if you want a bit more info, when GM went to the 6.0 liter motor, GM went from a 5/8 " shaft on the water pump to a 1/2" shaft. Butler knew you can't get a perfect balanced fan and clutch, but they knew the right flex fan would help to cool and promote longevity of the water pump.
Oh, and other rumors about the GM vans going away in a year or so....we are talking more like 2020 I have heard before even considering making a platform change....
This educational moment brought to you today by Mark Saiger
