Self starting fan?

[Beadybc]

When should the self starting fan attached to the radiator kick in?

It’s a 1997 940 LPT b230fk

[baggy798]

Mine kicks in at 221°F or 105°C.

[Jebus]

mine is is 92, and its somewhere around that as well, doesn't kick in that often even when sat in traffic etc, its a decent sized radiator so won't kick in too often anyway

[Rversteeg]

Thermostat vs E-fan

mine is is 92, and its somewhere around that as well, doesn't kick in that often even when sat in traffic etc, its a decent sized radiator so won't kick in too often anyway

I think you are confused with the thermostat. The thermostat tries to maintain a coolant temperature of minimal 92°C by (partially) closing the coolant loop through the radiator when the temperature is lower than 92°C. At temperatures over 92°C the thermostat will be fully open.

If the coolant temperature exceeds 102 - 105°C the ECU should start the E-fan. This will only happen if there is no air flow in static traffic or lower speeds in combination with high engine loads (going uphill). How quick the E-fan kicks in during static traffic is not so much determined by the cooling capacity of the radiator (there is no air flow, so hardly any cooling), but with how much heat the engine generates and the volume of the cooling system.
How often the E-fan kicks in is not important, as long as you hear it running every now and then it is okay. Note the temperature gauge is dampened to indicate the middle position between 60 and 115°C, so no pre-warning that the E-fan is not running until it is quite late.
Rob