Club G40 Forum

Technical => Engine and Transmission => Topic started by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 08:46:19 pm

Title: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 08:46:19 pm: Since running a bit more power through my G40 (around 180bhp at the moment), I'm finding that the fan isn't powerful enough to keep it cool when in town etc. The temperature will regularly rise to over 100c. I can't hear the fan kick into the higher speed, but I know it's definitely running at the lower speed when going through town, but the temperarture picks up very quickly (no more than a couple of minutes) to over 100c.

I'm guessing I'm not alone, so I'm wondering what you guys are doing? A bigger fan? Twin fans? Can anyone recommend any good upgrades?
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: hayesey on April 15, 2009, 08:47:57 pm: does yours have a twin speed fan on it (3 pin plug)?
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 08:52:06 pm: I can't remember what the pins are like, but I'm pretty sure it's a twin speed, because if I connect it straight to the battery, it runs a lot quicker!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: hayesey on April 15, 2009, 08:59:18 pm: might be worth seeing if the 2nd stage is actually working. Do you have the proper G40 radiator on yours? You can tell by looking at the end tanks, a proper one will have smooth tanks whereas non-gt/g40 ones are ribbed end tanks. A proper one has more, smaller tubes and does a better job.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 09:03:39 pm: The 2nd stage comes on at 102c doesn't it? I have My temp guage rises to 103c (admittedly, I wouldn't ever expect it or the fan temp sensor to be pinpoint accurate). But, by then, I chicken out and pull over! Either way, I'm finding the speed that the temperature rises through town quite shocking, especially as the weather isn't that hot yet!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: PeteG40 on April 15, 2009, 09:52:13 pm: mk2 g40s have only got a small radiator anyway! 380mm - normal gs have 430s
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 09:56:14 pm: Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot! I have a G40 radiator!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: PeteG40 on April 15, 2009, 09:56:49 pm: hows that mounted? as im baffeld theres no room!??!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 15, 2009, 09:59:23 pm: Pretty tightly! An angle grinder was used to create a bit of room!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: PeteG40 on April 15, 2009, 10:43:42 pm: got any pics?
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: poloeatonm45 on April 18, 2009, 10:10:42 pm: im interested in this also, would an alloy rad help much? having said that i dont think my rad is a g40 one i think it might be a standard one.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Daryl on April 19, 2009, 09:58:35 pm: would like to see this too. ive got a lump going into a mk2 soon and need to buy a rad.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Olly G40 on April 21, 2009, 11:11:15 am: Mine does exactly this and it's never really concerned me every older car iv driven is lkike this I dont think its a problem but if anyone does come up with a cure id like to know...
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 24, 2009, 08:54:56 pm: Okay, I feel a bit silly now! It's a standard mk2 one - the side tanks are smooth! I think I might have been getting mixed up with the 306 when I was thinking of the ribbed side tanks!

As it's staying cool enough above 40mph, I might go and get 2 fans - should be cheaper than getting a custom made radiator!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: hayesey on April 24, 2009, 09:19:08 pm: a proper gt/g40 one has smooth end tanks!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 25, 2009, 01:25:12 pm: D'oh, now I'm remembering what you told me wrongly (I didn't read back before I answered)! I'm being thick...

To clarify - I have a G40 radiator!

PeteG40, I'll get some pics up as soon as I can!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on April 25, 2009, 08:04:29 pm: Sorry, this is the best I could get:

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/dabigginger/g40wp/rad1.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/dabigginger/g40wp/rad2.jpg)

There isn't the space in the engine bay to get any better pics - sorry! I remember when I first got the engine swap done, the guys who did it bodged it by putting the radiator in diagonally! After a bit of time with an angle grinder, myself and a mate got it to fit much more tidily!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: PeteG40 on April 26, 2009, 01:22:35 pm: thats not a g40 radiator - its a mk2 one.. mk3 dont have a take off for the header tank
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: 86C on June 11, 2009, 04:29:36 am: Quote from: dabigginger on April 25, 2009, 08:04:29 pm
the guys who did it bodged it by putting the radiator in diagonally!

This is how they did it in the factory Mk.2's...
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Nick_S on June 11, 2009, 02:12:36 pm: Quote from: 86C on June 11, 2009, 04:29:36 am
Quote from: dabigginger on April 25, 2009, 08:04:29 pm
the guys who did it bodged it by putting the radiator in diagonally!

This is how they did it in the factory Mk.2's...

They are shunted towards the RHS by about 3" using new locator holes on the mk2 G40 cross member, when you drop the rad in place ;)
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: g40willa on February 06, 2010, 11:52:34 pm: peep this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nissens-Aluminium-Radiator-VW-POLO-1-3-90-94_W0QQitemZ180369990674QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item29fee3a412
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Alexiskayak_7 on February 07, 2010, 08:34:48 am: I think that nissens don't make improved radiators... The dealer just means aluminium fins...
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Tommo on February 07, 2010, 09:56:43 am: I dont really see why you would need to upgrade the radiator to stop it over heating in traffic when there is no load on the engine? Personally I would suspect a fault with the current system such as slutch, or a sticky thermostat, or the fan etc.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: Nick_S on February 07, 2010, 02:30:13 pm: Quote from: g40willa on February 06, 2010, 11:52:34 pm
peep this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nissens-Aluminium-Radiator-VW-POLO-1-3-90-94_W0QQitemZ180369990674QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item29fee3a412

States for the 2G engine as well, which is 55bhp carbed lump. It will have the same core matrix as the 'non performance' polo cars.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: adrenalinseeker on February 08, 2010, 05:17:22 pm: i would check all the components work well then i would upgrade to a twinspeed fan as thats single.
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: DaBigGinger on February 13, 2010, 10:01:45 am: This thread has been dragged up a bit - it's nearly a year old now!
Title: Re: How do you cool yours?
Post by: jimmyb1982 on February 20, 2010, 09:38:36 am: Oops, my G has a CL radiator, thats why it overheats then. having said that it does have the 2 speed fan switch and an 84deg thermostat. I should get a G40 rad and possibly a rad switch on the dashboard so I can run it in hot weather. :)