[Vwdiesel] More on coolant flow through radiator

[Sandy Cameron]

At 10:31 PM 02/09/04 -0300, you wrote:
>The water temperature needle would stay just below the LED with the old 
>wasserboxer and with the diesel it runs just above the LED during 
>normal driving, but when running fast (a relative term with a 75 hp 
>diesel in a 5,000 lb vehicle) on the highway or pulling up a long hill 
>the temperature will rise.  I have noticed that the engine and heater 
>warm up much more quickly with the diesel than the gas flat four.  This 
>I found strange as diesels are not known for fast warmups, especially 
>around town.

The long circuit may be the problem. I do not know if the water pump for a
diesel engine used in the van is different than the one used in cars. I
would not be surprised.

I noticed last year (in winter) with my partially plugged rad (now flushed)
that the temp rise in the diesel is directly related to how hard you are
flogging it. Once my rad was clear, it didn't matter how hard I flogged it,
the temp remained constant. Ergo: sufficient circulation takes care of it.

Investigate high efficiency water pumps as applied to vans with long,
restricted cooling circuits...
And back flush your rad again. If you have just assembled a whole new
cooling system, there may be mice in it somewhere (earwigs, crickets, etc
they're all looking for a home)
Leave a rad sitting on the ground for one night, next morning it's full of
earwigs.
(how do I know?)

Sandy