Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:11:32 -0700
Reply-To: phil zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: phil zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: question on oil cooler for 1990 Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
2009/10/20, David Cohen <Mtbdavid2@aol.com>: Hi, I was wondering if an
external oil cooler, bigger than the stock one, is good for extending
the life of a stock 2.1 motor in a 1990 Vanagon? > > Thanks, David >
From: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
........snip.........
I don't know if anyone tried fitting the larger Passat oil heat
exchager. It's a lot like the WBX piece but a lot thicker. It certainly
looks like it would work if you use the Passat threaded pipe that holds
it in place. I've seen these heat exchangers for around $190.
------------------
David, Chris and others,
I installed one of those larger oil temp conditioners (found at the
time on Euro Passat turbo'ed engines) onto my 2.1 WBX some 10 years
ago. I purchased it from <www.Dieselgeek.com>. Have since located this
part on the VW Parts network.... FWIW, this cooler is used on VR6,
inline-4's Gas/TDI engines. Fits the 2.1 WBX with minimal modification
and difficulty.
As Chris mentions, needs the longer threaded-pipe for installation.
Also, the forward water-line Pipe (between the Cooler and the
Thermostat-housing) will no longer fit the larger (thicker) Cooler. The
rubber elbow is too short! I replaced the rubber hose-adapters and
metal pipe with a single run of Si-Hose. The Pipe from the Cooler to
the Water-pump has since rusted-out, replaced with a single Si-Hose.
Eliminating 4 hose-joints, 4 hose adapters and two metal pipes from the
Cooling System! Has worked Ok (no leaks) since installation.
Engine cools Ok but, I have no direct oil temperature data. Under
heavy/hard engine use, the Water Temps (on stock gauge) stay
significantly lower than before the installation of the larger cooler.
The larger cooler/conditioner does not lower Oil operating temperatures
directly but increases the cooling/conditioning Capacity to
absorb/dissipate heat from the engine oil. Will this extend the life of
a stock motor? Anything that will decrease spikes (highs & lows) in oil
temperature ought to increase engine longevity... says conventional
wisdom.....
I have also installed an Aeroquip (fluid to fluid) Transmission Cooler
to the Auto-Trans and a new Radiator to this Van. Gone are the raising
Temperature Gauge worries that long steep climbs on hot summer days
used to plague, this long in the tooth 1987 Vanagon. FWIW, the second
stock WBX engine has long passed the mileage that the original engine
survived..... YMMV
Phil Z.
'87 Westy
Campbell River, BC
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