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Aluminum Valve Covers - do they help keep head temps down?

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bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#972724
Be cool if they had copper! 👍
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#972726
bus914 wrote:Do they help keep head temps down?
no


matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#972729
Craig Torrens wrote:
bus914 wrote:Do they help keep head temps down?
no
x2
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#972735
bus914 wrote:Do they help keep head temps down?
HI
I have these finned alloy tappat covers.. I believe that they should work on keeping heat down.. the alloy fins work as a heatsink in which hot air blows over the fins..
cheers
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#972744
They may increase the 'impression ratio'.👍
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 ·

#972745
HappyDaze wrote:They may increase the 'impression ratio'.👍
Only of they have EMPI written on them ...lol

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#972787
physics says yes they work! in practice it would only be few 100ths of a degree as the fins have stuff all surface area. In fact the stock black covers will radiate heat faster since its black

lets put it this way, I were to use that sized heat sink on my computer's CPU with that many fins, it would die in about 3 min and CPU will burn.

What I have is a square of silicon about 10mm x 10mm that has just under 1.5 m2 of surface area for the heat sink and still runs hot. how much heat does an engine make?

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

modulus Veteran Volks Folk

2,009 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#972788
HappyDaze wrote:They may increase the 'impression ratio'.👍
I guess that's the ratio of:

What you think they might do
===================
What they really might do

i.e. about 10:1.
Peter Hill
1975 Type 2 Double Cab
modulus.com.au

bus914 Custom Title Time!

1,230 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#972789
Yeah I thought that there may be some benefit since Porsche carrera engines were fitted with similar looking ones on the bottom. Considering that the covers are insulated from the head by a cork gasket there will never be proper heat transfer anyway. Unless the idea is that they start transfering heat once they get saturated with oil?
[img]https://i4.ytimg.com/vi/KOKlJpsfCyk/default.jpg[/img] Click the thumbnail for video👍

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#972793
well they do look COOL... lol😂

I get cool just looking at them... 😂

Mine are higher than normal vw tappet covers , so that high lift ratio rockers etc could be used... the spring bales are about 20mm approx higher..

VW used chromed tappet covers in scandinavia in the 50s [60s] as the chrome holds the heat... needed in extremely cold weather..

the bails wouldn't transfer any heat so its only cooling the oil that flows onto them...

the push rod tubes were made thin to transfer the heat from the oil as the cooling air from the engine flows over them..
the [hot] cooling air is always cooler than the oil..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#972794
modulus wrote:
HappyDaze wrote:They may increase the 'impression ratio'.👍
I guess that's the ratio of:

What you think they might do
===================
What they really might do

i.e. about 10:1.
I was thinking more along the lines of:-

Number of 👍
=========
Number of 👎
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#972796
About the only thing they help is creating more oil leaks.

68BUS Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Jul 2011 ·

#972800
bus914 wrote:Yeah I thought that there may be some benefit since Porsche carrera engines were fitted with similar looking ones on the bottom. Considering that the covers are insulated from the head by a cork gasket there will never be proper heat transfer anyway. Unless the idea is that they start transfering heat once they get saturated with oil?
If is was in a porsche it may be more about weight reduction of a few grams. Use the ribs as strength and lose some material out of the channels.

Or they decided it looked good.
Which falls under the 10:1 ratio rule.
1966 Aussie 11 Window

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#972806
68BUS wrote:
bus914 wrote:Yeah I thought that there may be some benefit since Porsche carrera engines were fitted with similar looking ones on the bottom. Considering that the covers are insulated from the head by a cork gasket there will never be proper heat transfer anyway. Unless the idea is that they start transfering heat once they get saturated with oil?
If is was in a porsche it may be more about weight reduction of a few grams. Use the ribs as strength and lose some material out of the channels.

Or they decided it looked good.
Which falls under the 10:1 ratio rule.
yep, the ribs for rigidity.

just about every modern synthetic plastic type rocker covers have ribs just like those and that ain't for cooling 😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#972838
68AutoBug wrote:VW used chromed tappet covers in scandinavia in the 50s [60s] as the chrome holds the heat... needed in extremely cold weather..
One for mythbusters.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#972845
Until some one actually does a controlled test to determine if they reduce the temperature or not, it is all a guess work.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#972849
Joel wrote:About the only thing they help is creating more oil leaks.
👍
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

68BUS Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Jul 2011 ·

#972851
Regarding the oil leaks thing. That is a benifit.
Saves time changing oil. Just top it up regularly and it cleans as it goes.
Saves money on oil filters too cause you don;t need to change them.

Geeez, you motorsport guys need to get with the program😂
1966 Aussie 11 Window

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#972852
68BUS wrote:Regarding the oil leaks thing. That is a benifit.
Saves time changing oil. Just top it up regularly and it cleans as it goes.
Saves money on oil filters too cause you don;t need to change them.

Geeez, you motorsport guys need to get with the program😂
And most importantly, very ENVIRONMENT - FRIENDLY !

The oil is returned to the EARTH....where it came from.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#972860
AA003 wrote:
68AutoBug wrote:VW used chromed tappet covers in scandinavia in the 50s [60s] as the chrome holds the heat... needed in extremely cold weather..
One for mythbusters.
no need, its physics. highly reflective metallic surfaces like aluminum and chrome will reduce radiated heat.

look up black body radiation.

try a frying pan thats bare alloy on the bottom and black on the inside. Heat it up nice and hot. hold it out in front of your face. you will feel the heat blazing out on the black side, turn it around and virtually nothing from the shiny alloy side. Its physics 🤓

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

BRUTUS Officially Full-On Dubber

255 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#972869
I used to roughen and then paint my aluminium ones black, but was regarded by most as somewhat eccentric...
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#972870
HappyDaze wrote:And most importantly, very ENVIRONMENT - FRIENDLY !

The oil is returned to the EARTH....where it came from.
😂😂


AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#972932
vlad01 wrote:
AA003 wrote:
68AutoBug wrote:VW used chromed tappet covers in scandinavia in the 50s [60s] .
One for mythbusters.
no need, its physics. highly reflective metallic surfaces like aluminum and chrome will reduce radiated heat.

look up black body radiation.

try a frying pan thats bare alloy on the bottom and black on the inside. Heat it up nice and hot. hold it out in front of your face. you will feel the heat blazing out on the black side, turn it around and virtually nothing from the shiny alloy side. Its physics 🤓
Nothing to do with physics. Read again.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#972948
I powder coat all my alloy tappet covers flat black, do not have a leak on any of mine, use the correct size orings under the head of the bolts that hold them on, make certain that the bolts have a unthreaded section under the head for the oring to seal on. replacement orings are avialable from any bearing place, i cannot comment on the bale type alloy tappet covers as i have never used them.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#973017
AA003 wrote:
vlad01 wrote:
AA003 wrote:
68AutoBug wrote:VW used chromed tappet covers in scandinavia in the 50s [60s] .
One for mythbusters.
no need, its physics. highly reflective metallic surfaces like aluminum and chrome will reduce radiated heat.

look up black body radiation.

try a frying pan thats bare alloy on the bottom and black on the inside. Heat it up nice and hot. hold it out in front of your face. you will feel the heat blazing out on the black side, turn it around and virtually nothing from the shiny alloy side. Its physics 🤓
Nothing to do with physics. Read again.
wtf? 🤪 it has everything to do with physics.

everything single thing in the universe is govern by physics.

Hello... wake up!

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#973024
He's talking about Scandinavia in the 50's.
A physics text book doesn't have a formula to determine that 😂

Sociology is a different science altogether.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#973089
By George he's got it!😂
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#973102
where is Baja Wes when you want him ???? 😉
Futue te ipsum!!!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#973105
Maybe its sciencetology ... lol

well if the alloy tappet covers are painted matt black...

I believe it will make no difference.....

there are many people who believe flat black paint will work wonders with heat..... just spray it on...

I believe I may have painted My cylinders SILVER with hi temperature paint...
the push rod tubes are painted silver. [metallic]

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---