Hi everyone
The motor in my Type3 over heated real bad and stop. ( the wife was driving to work )After winding over for a little while it started with a cloud of white smoke. It sounds ok but don't want to take the risk of causing more damage so I am putting another engine in itand pulling this one down to have a look.
The replacment engine has had the thermostat and the flaps in the fan housing removed. As I understand how this works the flaps are closed untill the engine warms up and the thermo opens the flaps. So does it matter if they have been removed. will this mean that the engine will take longer to warmup?. and nothing else and will be ok to drive like this.

thanks for any input

Marc

[Edited on 16-6-04 by Midlife crisis]

sorry i don't know!
but where is the thermostat on a vw??

Hi
It is under the barrels but abve the tinware that goes between the heater boxes and the sump and there is a arm and spring on the right head that has a lever that goes to the flaps in the fan housing

Marc

Its ok if the actual thermostat bellows isnt there, it only warms up slightly quicker with it. Its more important that the flaps are there I think, because they direct the air to the heads

Your engine will take longer to warm up without thermostat and flaps. It won't overheat (unless there's another unrelated problem that would cause it to overheat anyway).

The thing is that you engine will wear out quicker if it takes longer to warm up, because most wear happens while the oil is not warm enough.

just rip the flaps and other related stuff out and run like 90% of the vw's in OZ. Not realy required unless you are a purist. If it is cold take it easy until it warms up. The difference in engine wear is not worth worrying about (my opinion).:bounce

Thanks peoples for input hat you said is what i thought but wanted to be sure

thanks again

Marc

Thanks desert Moose
I took your Idea and made up some joiners for the j pipes

thanks
Marc

[Edited on 17-6-04 by Midlife crisis]

Need for flaps/thermostat/etc depends on where you'll be driving. As long as you don't plan going somewhere cold you'll be fine!

try buying a new one anyway,nah mate cant get em anymore. a bit like crabs, everyone used to have em but for some reason theyve disappeared!

Nothing beats a bush mechanic if it does'nt fit get a bigger hammer

thanks everyone for your advice

Marc

I'm not sure about a type 3 engine but you have to have the left hand side flap fitted and held in the down position to direct air over the oil cooler. Without it the air bypasses the oil cooler and takes the easiest path out of the engine which makes your engine run hotter.