[Vwdiesel] normal running temp

[Val Christian]

I'm somewhat red faced about this...but about 15 years ago, I had a 
Rabbit diesel which was overheating.  It was about this time of the year.
The only thing I hadn't eliminated was the radiator.  The car was about
12 or 13 years old, and although I wasn't comfortable with notion that
the radiator might be clogged, or whatever, I decided to replace it.
I hunted long and hard for a good price on a reman radiator.  When I 
got it, it was a real hot muggy day, and I pulled things apart, and 
extracted the radiator.  Then I got a better view.  Dogwood had settled
into the fins, and was matted throughout the radiator.

Since I already had the radiator, with lifetime warranty, I decided to 
drop it in.  The original radiator sits today, in a box in the garage,
reminding me of my failure to fully observe.  

The AC condensor fins were coarser, and allowed the dogwood to flush out.
The radiator traped the rest.

Val





> 
> Is the radiator the only thing that you didn't replace?  Sounds like a
> partial blockage and it isn't being efficient enough to cool the vehicle
> down. While cruising at hwy speeds the fan should not come on. The air flow
> through the radiator should be enough to keep things cool. That is why I'm
> thinking a blockage, not enough of an area in the radiator is getting to
> exchange the heat out of the coolant, thus you're getting higher temps due
> to the inefficiency. 
> I was having the classic head gasket leak, over pressurizing the coolant
> tank, I though it was a clogged radiator, this is before I know now and was
> a newbie to diesels last year. So I bought a new radiator. It was a bad head
> gasket in the end. My system has been flushed and with all new items in the
> coolant system to include the radiator. I run just off of the mid line on
> the temp gage. In traffic on nice hot days like yesterday here in NC when it
> reached 97F with a 102F heat index, the needle will go between half and
> three quarters and the fan will kick on. I would say that your radiator has
> a blockage and isn't efficient enough.
> Nick
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
> Behalf Of a f
> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 3:07 AM
> To: LBaird119 at aol.com; vwdiesel at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] normal running temp
> 
> Similar question...
>  
> I have a '91 1.6 N/A Jetta and I am thinking the fan is coming on too much.
> I have had some overheating problems in the past (see archive) and thought I
> had rid the car of any overheating problems (Coolant flush, changed
> hoses/heater core, H2O pump,thermostat, and thermoswitch for fan). Car does
> not currently overheat (read idiot light blinking) and I never lose any
> coolant anymore but it seems my fan is switching on too much ie. the car
> always seems to run at the temp when the fan comes on (3/4) even during
> highway cruising...and when I climb a hill the temp increases and approaches
> the red (but never activating idiot light). I understand that the actual
> reading on the gauge doesn't mean squat because they are inconsistent but I
> am concerned that the fan is being over worked. Simply put while at
> comfortable cruising speed should the water temp. be where  the fan switches
> on and off constantly or should the fan only be on when the car is in
> traffic or pulling a hill? FYI I am
>   in NJ
>  so the temp has been hot but not fry an egg hot.
> Another way of putting it, should the car, while moving/cruising comfortable
> (level grade/60 mph) be able to cool on its own (without fan) or is the fan
> critical for cooling at all times?
>  
> Thanks
> Andrew
>  
>  
> 
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