Aircooled VS Watercooled

LukeV85 · 2007-09-11T02:00:39+00:00

Hey guys, Just wondering what you guys like better. Watercooled or Aircooled Veedubs. Im a fan of the Aircooled motor. Reason being that the aircooled engine in my opinion is simple and reliable. My beetle is 45 yrs old and running on the same motor since new, due to a full service histroy might I had. Watercooled motors are complicated and there more that can go wrong with it. Thats what I think anyway. What you dubbers think?

thestu Commited Dubber

71 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 23 Jan 2009, 9:41 am

#691080

both. they have there differences

air cooled for simplicity and fuel economy

watercooled for the ability to make more power easily and cheaply...(well cheaper than an air cooled motor 🙂

watercooled.

my 40hp

sunnygirl Learner Dubber

13 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 16 Feb 2009, 4:31 pm

#695553

I also have only ever driven air cooled VW's ranging from 54 oval right through to now a 56 Oval & 75 L bug - my husband and I have recently purchased a new T5 Dual Cab all wheel drive ute and I must say this baby flies.....once out of first, then second gear this vehicle launches into third and onto 6th gear and I can reach 100klms + in seconds. I am extremely impressed with the performance of this so-called commercial vehicle and am even tempted to enter into the Warwick meet. I love all my past and present VW's and hold no opinions either way - shame alot of my fellow VW mates didn't feel the same about water cooled dubs - I should give them a go at the T5.

Aussie FJ40 Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 14 Apr 2009, 5:30 pm

#706883

cant see air cooled running at 130kph all day in 45 degree heat in the territory,gimme water anyday,i do like the old vw but i want to cruise in comfort,ill stick to my lwb t5 and my R36,oh and my first car,a 66 beetle 40 years ago,i wont go back,i do like the california look on the old ones,just my 2 cents

rustguard Casual Dubber

45 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 16 Apr 2009, 3:18 pm

#707267

its a bit unfair to compare an engine design from the 1930's to a modern 21st century engine? so compare it to any watercooled enginecar from that time?

dak dak dak dak dak dak

Aussie FJ40 Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 16 Apr 2009, 6:17 pm

#707296

air cooled may be ok in a cold country but they never cut the mustard here in oz where the temps are too hot,simple fact,dont know how many air cooled cars i towed in the territory over the years but it would exceed water cooled by lots,and they made them way past the 30s,us humans need water,so do cars,if air cooled is so good how come we done away with it?gimme water,maybe a bourbon first

rustguard Casual Dubber

45 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 18 Apr 2009, 2:52 am

#707549

the vw engine was designed in the 30's and hasn't changed much, even the wasserboxer looks like the same engine with a water jacket chucked in the equation.
As for towing more aircooled, no way, impossible 1 there's just not enough of them compared to watercooled cars, they would have to die at a rate of 10000 to 1, also they can still run with a cracked head to get u home. watercooled though much better in heat can be more dramatic when they overheat. look at the redex trials and all the offroad races they have won in the past. if air cooled is so unreliable how come they had first and second place in the redex reliability trials? they went through the topend. that said I like watercooled engines better

dak dak dak dak dak dak

LukeV85 P Master

154 posts · joined Sep 2007 · 8 Sep 2009, 12:33 pm

#734131

i shall never buy a watercooled VW again, all ive seemed to have with them is trouble, while my old bug keeps on keeping on......unless i keep buying dudz

1962.5 VW Beetle 1200
2002 VW Oettinger Bora - Statutory Write Off

JVLRacing Custom Title Time!

1,100 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 1 Oct 2009, 11:56 pm

#738534

LukeV85 wrote:i shall never buy a watercooled VW again, all ive seemed to have with them is trouble, while my old bug keeps on keeping on......unless i keep buying dudz

...depends wat you buy....i think it goes both ways....

a11djr Learner Dubber

16 posts · joined Sep 2009 · 19 Oct 2009, 9:24 pm

#741873

tough call!!!!

1975 Swallowtail RIP Buddy
993 CARRERA 2S
1992 GTI CAB
54 RHD Barndoor

Team Wackeldackel
Melbourne Branch
............................

motha Officially Full-On Dubber

215 posts · joined Nov 2004 · 8 Nov 2009, 7:48 pm

#746172

JVLRacing wrote:
LukeV85 wrote:i shall never buy a watercooled VW again, all ive seemed to have with them is trouble, while my old bug keeps on keeping on......unless i keep buying dudz
...depends wat you buy....i think it goes both ways....

Agreed 100%

I brought a mint beetle & it pulled the headstuds in the first week of owning it.
Got rid of it straight away!

I'd still like another beetle though.

I'm not going to say the waterpumpers are bulllit proof either, as they have also let me down(very rarely though), but not to the point where it's left me stranded. I've always been able to get home.

I also normally drive 600-800km a week for work in my mk1. When I was an apprentice it was 1000km a week!

I've found/noticed being in the trade, the more you use the car, the better it is. If any car sits for long periods of time, they all can deteriorate!!

So the subject is really at the crossroads I think.

My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.