Should the radiator fan run after shutfoff?

[TX]

I don't think I've ever had my radiator fan run after I shut the car off, even when I park it is a roasting garage at the 210 mark. Is this normal? The fan runs during normal engine run time. I was talking with someone who said it stays on and runs for a while after shutoff, but mine doesn't ever.
Thoughts? Is this normal? If not where should I look for a problem?

[roastbeef]

Not normal.

[Helmsman]

Fan not shutoff for ever doesn't sound right, did you wait for a long time? The fan occasionally is on when I turn off the car, all I do it start up and shut off again - silent. Same thing could happend with my previous car (E60 550i), same thing start up/shut down.

[amrazM]

Mine has never stayed on, there may be a reason why yours is running after shutoff such as the coolant temp sensor not reading. scan for codes before anything else.

[fs34]

Mine will run after shutoff occasionally, I’ve been told it’s normal. No codes or cooling problems I am aware of. It’s usually after some spirited driving when I have to shut down without idling for a minute or 2 before shutoff.

Most of this is when I pull into the garage at home and don’t want to idle and fill the garage up with exhaust.

[MTM]

Originally Posted by fs34

Mine will run after shutoff occasionally, I’ve been told it’s normal. No codes or cooling problems I am aware of. It’s usually after some spirited driving when I have to shut down without idling for a minute or 2 before shutoff.

Most of this is when I pull into the garage at home and don’t want to idle and fill the garage up with exhaust.

+1

Very occasionally my cooling fan will run for a minute or so after shutting down the car. Never received any sort of code.

[UPSROD]

When you shut the car off the coolant stops circulating the engine gets hotter and the fan comes on.

[DrFerry]

On Southern, hot, humid, high 90F degree days - or higher - my fan stays on for a while after shutting the engine off. I've also noticed it tends to do this more often IF the A/C Recirculation has been on (which I think trips the smaller auxiliary radiator fan) and when the engine has been running at or above normal running temperature. After a few minutes (5 at the most) the fan stops when parked. No codes ever.

[BeaterM3]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

On Southern, hot, humid, high 90F degree days - or higher - my fan stays on for a while after shutting the engine off. I've also noticed it tends to do this more often IF the A/C Recirculation has been on (which I think trips the smaller auxiliary radiator fan) and when the engine has been running at or above normal running temperature. After a few minutes (5 at the most) the fan stops when parked. No codes ever.

Same here. During the humid summer months, the fan always stays on after shutting the engine off.

[TX]

Thanks for the replies. Some say theirs doesn’t run and others say it runs. Got it my original statement was that my fan does not ever stay on and run after the engine shuts off. Is there a control fuse I should look for? Something I can track down with ista? Fan runs when the car runs.

[gfisher99]

Originally Posted by TX

Thanks for the replies. Some say theirs doesn’t run and others say it runs. Got it my original statement was that my fan does not ever stay on and run after the engine shuts off. Is there a control fuse I should look for? Something I can track down with ista? Fan runs when the car runs.

Mine has only stayed on once or twice in my 5 years of ownership. I don't typically rag it out that close to home though. I think it's normal and I wouldn't worry about it. I live in Central Texas where it's hot and relatively humid, as well.

[SAMM3Y]

Mine does in the summer. I do have a fault code that comes and goes.. it doesn't trigger a check engine fault but when I look with the computer it's there.. 2b59.. something like that.

[Scrippy]

Get a scanner. It's 100% normal for your fan to stay on after you get out if it is hot. I live in SoCal and mine does it on hot days but not always. It's based off temp. Even after doing my water pump and thermostat it has done it. Reason I say get a code scanner is you will have an error in DME that says something about the "final stage bad" in the fan. That's not verbatim but you'll see what I mean if you have that code. It means get a new fan and drop it in or check the plug and wiring for corrosion.

[TX]

thank you for the replies..
Let me say again. I'm concerned because my fan DOES NOT ever run after the engine is shut off like others say it should to provide cooling for a short period.
it does run on command with ista and does run when the car runs.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by TX

thank you for the replies..
Let me say again. I'm concerned because my fan DOES NOT ever run after the engine is shut off like others say it should to provide cooling for a short period.
it does run on command with ista and does run when the car runs.

Hahaha! Sorry my man, I (and clearly a few others) missed reading properly! The eyes is what goes blind first as they say. Anyways, I wouldn't worry a bit mate. Some apparently never turns on while some does occasionally. In my case very seldom thought.

[TX]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Hahaha! Sorry my man

No worries! I did, however, get lots of good advice about how to replace a bad fan out of this if nothing else.

[Uberschaller]

I own my E90M3 for 5 years + now, put more then 100Km on it, 160Km currently. Water pump thermostat done at 106Km, rod bearings at 126Km
Located in SoCa, for the first 4 years up to 130Km my fan never ever run after I turned my car off, even in the hottest of the hottest 110F+ days.
It always baffled me as I never had any car do that but though high rev engine needs exceptional cooling.
All the sudden about a year ago the fan stayed on at very rare occasions and strangely not on hot days, neither was the engine particular hot, really strange.

The other thing that happened a few month later, pretty much from one day to the other, is that I noticed my oil temperature is a bit higher then usual and goes up higher quickly under load, and from that day on it also is consistent that way. We are talking LA traffic, South Bay going up 405 Sepulveda pass into the Valley, 80 miles roundtrip, pretty much in the 3-5K rpm range, nothing special.
Outside temperature does not matter much and shouldn't in my opining the car should always keep the temperature consistant until it can't handle it.
All the years my oil temp went up to 210 and then settled slightly under 210 and pretty much stayed there unless I really push the car hard.
I have been monitoring and scanning etc... but can't find anything wrong, flushed coolant, no change.
I would think if the thermostat is bad it would show as a code under the monitor like it did before I changed it.
I monitored engine, oil and coolant temp, my thermostat opens at the temperature it is rated but strangely it takes about 19 miles and about 29 min while going up Sepulveda pass, oil temperature reached in less the 8 min and 7 miles. After the thermostat is fully open temp drops and then comes back up and slowly creeps up until I stop the car.
I have no way of knowing when my fan kicks in or if it does but know it's working.
I could be crazy and it was always this way but really doubt it.
The valve cover with the oil filler has the paint slightly bubbling maybe due to higher temperature?

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Uberschaller

I would think if the thermostat is bad it would show as a code under the monitor like it did before I changed it.
I monitored engine, oil and coolant temp, my thermostat opens at the temperature it is rated but strangely it takes about 19 miles and about 29 min while going up Sepulveda pass, oil temperature reached in less the 8 min and 7 miles. After the thermostat is fully open temp drops and then comes back up and slowly creeps up until I stop the car.
I have no way of knowing when my fan kicks in or if it does but know it's working.
I could be crazy and it was always this way but really doubt it.
The valve cover with the oil filler has the paint slightly bubbling maybe due to higher temperature?

Are you saying the oil comes up to temp before the coolant temp hit 79C isch? If so the Tsat is most probably broken. Doesn't have to generate a code at least not when stuck open, I hade a simiar case.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Are you saying the oil comes up to temp before the coolant temp hit 79C isch? If so the Tsat is most probably broken. Doesn't have to generate a code at least not when stuck open, I hade a simiar case.

If it was stuck open I think it would take longer for oil to warm up.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by akkando

If it was stuck open I think it would take longer for oil to warm up.

Yep, thats my point. Coolant should obviously hit Tstat max with oil temp following. Tstat typically fail stuck open, in my case I measured close to full oil temp (eventually) while the coolant still hovered around 65C or so.

[pbonsalb]

My fan runs on high regularly when in very low or no airflow conditions and runs regularly after I turn the engine off, but this started after I changed to the hotter coolant thermostat recommended by Troy Jeup a few years ago. I may change back to the stock thermostat because the noise is bothersome.

[Uberschaller]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Are you saying the oil comes up to temp before the coolant temp hit 79C isch? If so the Tsat is most probably broken. Doesn't have to generate a code at least not when stuck open, I hade a simiar case.

Yes that is what it does, okay will put a new Tsat in and see.
It opens at about 175F (79C) and drops to 165 which I think is pretty much no difference and is back up in about 30 seconds.