why engineer the vw engine air cooled, was there a goal or problem that was being solved at the time? why does it work? what are the physics of the air intake into the engine bay...what i mean is on my kombi i can feel air being sucked into the engine from the vents at idle...i suspect this is a good thing and why you must have good seals around engine bay door and the engine apron...i assume this is the same with the beetle and other vws...I have seen some buses up here on the gold coast with big holes cut out of the engine bay door and wondered if this actually helps the air flow...i think it might make it worse. I understand the fundamental difference is the water cooled enines have water to cool them...but why do that if air cooled works...i mean if vw can make a 2.0L air cooled seems like the engine size of most cars today could still be air cooled, and most of todays cars are probably lighter than my kombi being pushed around by a 1600! Did it have to do with air conditioning? anyway just a few ???
Aircooled engines worked well in very cold climates & very hot climates as the coolant couldnt freeze or boil, however it is very old technology. Water cooling is a better way to cool an engine and keep the temp much more stable, it also helps to muffle the noise of the engine.
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how does it help muffle the sound of the engine?
was vw the only car makers to mass produce the air cooled engine into "modern" automobile...
no there were also porche and fiat to name a few.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
One of Hitlers strict criteria for the beetle were for it to be aircooled, as most the German working class did not have garages, they would leave the VW outside during the very cold winters, where water cooled engines would freeze.
Water is a much better cooling medium but the clever design of the VW engine allows air to be more than adequate.
The engine bay seal is important to seperate the hot air underneath the eng heated by the exhaust/transaxle/fan exhaust/ (after it has flowed over the engine) from the cooler air in the engine bay which is sucked in through air vents.
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aircooled was also cheaper to produce & weighed less
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54
hey chewy Hitler had very little to do with it as it was actually a project commissioned by the MTA. Hitler only came in towards the end when ferdinand was having problems acquiring parts for his prototypes
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
basic and affordable. unlike anything with a water cooled system. if you maintain it correctly it will out perform/live the opposition. what a weapon. and to me the sound is SWEEEEET. flat 4 air cooled. bring it on.
or swap it for a radiator, coolant, thermostat, hoses, heater core, waterpump etc. let alone the corrosion and other side affects of not servicing the cooling system correctly.
most of these old girls wouldnt be around if all of those parts had to be replaced!!!!! 😉
beetles, buses and buggies......the garden gnomes are breeding
good stuff guys...what are the main egnineering points that make the air cooled work ie is there an engine bay volume that should be kept per size of engine...did they change the engine compartment size proportionately to the size of the engine...i suspect a 2.0l produces more heat than a 1600/etc
when was the last aircooled vw....when was the last air cooled porsche...when/if ever did porsche have the same engines as the vw?
porsche used the same engine as the kombis t4 in the 914/4, both was a 2L based on the same case but with different heads. last aircooled vw was last year or the year before. last aircooled porsche was mid 80s i think. i run a 2L in my bug and its no hotter than the 1600 i had before
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me
What indeed were they thinking ???????????
:kiss
🤘
Although that is compared with al the other complications of a fan forced aircooled engine, like keeping tinware in the right place, making sure nothing is stuck in the fan, keeping the cooling fins clear of crap etc.
Still it is less hassle than a radiator 🙂 Although I think the advantage of water is that it acts as a large heatsink that can absorb spikes in temperature. Also going by looking at Porsche designs, it is easier to do a multivalve head with water than it is with cooling fins.
Still, I think aircooled engines sound the best 🙂 And the simplicity is it's best feature.
Jon
if it is the original type motor for that car, it shouldnt get hot unless there is something wrong. never freeze never boil.
if you are doing transplants it is understandable if there are problems, as airflow etc isnt always the same as orig.
Go the Ridgy Ridginal
You here all the old boys saying "I had a beetle back in 1960 and I drove it around Australia 4 times, didnt miss a beat!!" , they must have believed in oil changes back then!!!!
The Shape of Things to Come from Germany..........
beetles, buses and buggies......the garden gnomes are breeding
although less efficient and less on the edge, i believe air cooled can be engineered to work in almost any config. i had a 85xr250, only 1.2 l oil, cooked all the time and due to design heads cracked betweeeen one ex valve and plug. but at the time was high perfomanvce and efficiency.
also a '85 dr250 little more oil, much less performance but 45 degree wa summers = no probs. also 85 xr600, dry sump, 2l oil carried in frame (cooler position), no probs in the heat.
todays 4 stroke dirtbikes have awesome efficiency & power & economy but tend to deprecoite like mad cause everythings been cut to the bone. its not uncommon to see a 2nd hand & older aircooled sell for as much or more than a newer and higher perfomance water cooled.
everyting gets more complex & specialised & efficient. its hunam nature. its not bad, its just the way it is.
the vw had a wide design breif basically in a time where world conditions were much less unifform in a time where do it yourself car maintenance was not only a normal pastime but when it was more than a loud stez and seat/wheel covers.
BTW, what is "new & improved", surley new cancels out improved.:duh
it is the nsame with motor bikes
Sadly - water cooled means more satble and more control over the motor.
As a result the emissions (that dirty word again) is what spelt the death of the air cooled motor.
They just cant compete with a water cooled one in these modern times
Futue te ipsum!!!
