'91 20V Auxiliary Radiator

[Brett Dikeman]

At 7:55 PM -0500 3/15/03, Christopher Gharibo wrote:
>I have a US spec '91 Coupe with an auxiliary radiator.
>
>Is there a coolant hose I can just temporarily clamp off to take the aux
>radiator out of circuit to see if my car runs cool enough?

Yes, one of the lines going to the aux radiator, though a fair amount
of water will still get through.  There's an official part available
that can be used to cap the lines, if you so desire...perhaps
designed for cold climates where the extra radiator isn't needed.

I don't see the point, unless there's something wrong with the
radiator.  Just like in the 200q20v, it's There For A Reason.  Car
companies don't throw random, expensive extra components into engine
compartments for chuckles, so I'm tempted to conclude Audi felt the
extra cooling was necessary.  It's not hurting anything, so why go to
the trouble and expense of bypassing it? :-)

My 200q20v is running minus the radiator, but that's because there is
a dime-sized hole machined into it courtesy the alternator-
apparently I forgot a bolt or two putting the radiator back on once,
and it pressed back onto the alternator shaft.  Soon as the temps go
up, I'll be replacing or repairing the aux radiator.

Brett
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