Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:36:45 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Side Air Intake Engine Cooling Question (searched)
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTiktcN8vG35ts+dD1mLq86YO=FHqDBhOU_cspuaX@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 6:47 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> Neil's van was air cooled, if I am not mistaken. He may have not exactly
> duplicated the air flow routing into his radiator, given he did a home
> install. Also, I think he runs an inline four motor...which should run
> cool...at least mine always does. So first I would replace the
> thermostat...and check it works out of the box...some do not work properly
> even brand new.
Yes. Was air cooled. I checked both the used and new thermostat before
installing engine. Cooling system is/was basically brand new "stem to
stern". Only used parts were the long pipes (in great shape.... 3
coats of POR-15 and they're new!) and the fan/shroud. Engine runs
within temp just fine. In fact, changing to the newer FLAPS generic
temp sensor brought my WBX temp gauge to 12:00 over the LED. This
possibly indicates just how much these parts can vary. Certainly those
variances showed up when I test boiled them in water on my stove! :)
Regardless, with the old sensor, the needle was to the right of the
LED. However, coolant temps have been consistent.
The issue isn't that the engine is running hot. True it may run
**slightly** hotter than it would in a Jetta; the coolant pump is a
stamped metal impeller type. It may not move as much coolant as would
be needed in this type of install. Anyhow.... My guess is that because
of the tubbed engine lid, that area may be harboring higher ambient
temps that one would normally see in an engine bay. With that in mind,
I was thinking that the coolant sensor may be overheating. Far
fetched, given that the coolant would determine the amount of heat the
sensor is exposed to, but, the engine bay heat may be contributor.
> If I were having overheating problems with a known good water pump,
> radiator and thermostat...Scoops might be the next logical step to
> try...Pretty simple to stick something on with a few sheet metal screws or
> pop rivets..I don't think Neil is one of those Barrett/Jackson collector
> types....so a few holes won't hurt and you can refill them easy enough
> should you decide to go back to no scoops.
What? ;)
Yah, I don't give a RA about aesthetics. Still. What I read in the
archives suggests that the scoops may help at certain speeds, but not
at all speeds. But....
If I were to make some scoops, rest assured they would be made of the
finest Rubbemaid or ___ offering Wangmart has!
> With all the inexpensive plastic food and closet storage boxes, bins,
> tubs, etc that you can find at places like Mall Wort you should easily be
> able to find the appropriate sized and shaped dishpan, sweater box, tool
> tote or something.. You can just cut something in half, down the middle,
> and use half over each D-pillar..It will certainly help. Back in the day,
> on a cross country rock climbing epic journey we use a galvanized trash can
> lid as scoops on the sides of my '57 S.A. 36hp splitty bus...After cutting
> the lid in half with a machette and making the holes in the bus with a nail,
> we used self tapping screws. It took care of the problem we were having
> with the motor seizing up solid on steep mountain passes, causing the old
> bus to stop....Right there!...then we'd have to roll backwards downhill and
> find a place to get out of the traffic flow while the motor cooled down
> enough to free up and move us again..
Given that it's Summer, maybe I'll quarter up some water melons and
use those. <VBG>
Seriously though, thanks for the tips and insights. I'll stick with
stock for now and see if running a duct from the old air cooled outlet
aimed at the tub doesn't make things cooler. I really should rig up a
temp gauge in there to be sure it's and improvement.
Given the uncouth design I chose, this is a good thing to try.
Neil.
> On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 5:48 PM, Jake de Villiers <
> crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I ALWAYS look cool Tom. ;)
>>
>> Sounds like your thermostat needs to be replaced. The needle is supposed
>> to
>> live on the LED when the engine is at operating temperature.
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > On Jul 27, 2010, at 3:39 PM, Jake de Villiers wrote:
>> >
>> > I managed to lower the temperature of my 1.9 WBX when driving in 100+
>> >> temps
>> >> by making cardboard deflectors for the D pillar air intakes and propping
>> >> the
>> >> license plate door open.
>> >>
>> > LOL!- I bet you & your vanagon look really COOL w/ that mod, Jake!
>> > What is wrong w/ your cooling system? I have the same engine & drive in
>> > those conditions all Summer w/o the coolant temp-o-meter going above
>> 1/3+-,
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
