Re: rieger radiator/cooling problems SOLVED!

[Benjamin Harder <vwtype53@yahoo.com>]

Allyn,
  This is great news!  Glad to hear that this has solved your problem...
I have installed the low temp fan switch and the 80 degree thermostat and
my 16v *still* will run kinda hot on a sunny summer day especially with the
AC on... so I have thought about doing a good radiator flush and cleaning
myself.  I haven't read all the posts on this subject, so could you give a
quick recap of the problem solution...
Like, did you actually remove the radiator to clean it?  And what is this
"purple power" stuff that you flushed it with?  Not sure if I've heard of
this before...

Thanks...and great job!

Ben


--- Allyn <amalventano1@home.com> wrote:
> You guys arent gonna believe this,
>     I followed Chris' advice and dumped some "purple power" into my radiator.
> 50/50 mix. Shake well.
> Dump on sidewalk, and ooh, whats that, the entire sidewalk has turned rust
> colored. I repeat again,
> just as much rust once again. One more time for good measure, and finally the
> rust dies off. I
> couldnt believe this purple stuff! It got all of that crap out of it, even
> after last nights episode
> of draino and carbeurator cleaner (which i _thought_ had gotten it pretty
> darn clean).
>     I slap everything back together, fill it up, (using this special water
> additive i got from
> advanced for $25, came in a black square can looking thing). Start er up and
> walk away. I want to
> see just how hot this thing will get. after 15 minutes or so i realize the
> fan has yet to kick on.
> water temp is very close to the top line, oil temp at 115, and the water cap
> relief is starting to
> lift. Holy crap, what the heck is going on here!
>     Right at that moment, the fan *finally* kicks on. after being on for a
> mere 10-15 seconds, its
> already blowing cold air from the radiator, adn it promptly turns back off.
> What the heck, the damn
> thing is overheating and the fan is kicking off after 30 seconds!!*&^$)*(&.
> its as if theres no flow
> through it, i think to myself. I get in the car and put rpm at 2000, fan
> kicks on after 5 seconds,
> fan stays on much more than 30 seconds as it was doing before. temp
> IMMEDIATELY starts screaming
> down. Takes a mere 3 minutes to get back down to the led (yes, it actually
> went DOWN). A few more
> minuts and oil temp is at 105. All of this and i was still sitting in my
> driveway!
>     Now i have my problem narrowed down to coolant flow through radiator at
> idle condition only. Not
> to mention my radiator is working a hell of a lot better than i've ever seen
> a 16v radiator work,
> well, when its got flow through it that is. I think that additive might
> actually do something to
> help, but with or without it, i still have crappy flow at idle.
>     Then it dawns on me, as i listen to the harley-type exhaust. My damn idle
> is too low. Thats why
> the fan didnt kick on till the damn engine went critical. Such low flow
> through it, the water was
> getting cooled below the trip point of the sensor before it made contact with
> it. As for the idle, I
> thought it was at 800 as indicated on the tach, turns out it was at 600. I
> raise it to 1000 by tach,
> temp drops to slightly above top of led, oil temp hangs at 105.
>     Whew!, idle overheat problems gone, now to check how well my newly reborn
> cooling system works
> on the move. Sitting at the now nice and low idle temperature, i start
> driving. After going about 5
> miles water gauge is already at center of led, and oil is down to about 95c.
> This is just awesome!
> This is all with the STANDARD thermostat and fan switch. I cant wait to see
> how well this thing runs
> when i get my hands on those 2 things.
>     I must say im pretty happy now. I hate running a 16v hot. Damn things
> will go forever if you can
> just keep em cool. The only true tests that remain is getting on the highway
> (where mine prev. ran
> at 110c minimum at 100 mph, on the way to cincy even). Also it isnt a
> terribly hot day right now, so
> i suppose thats the other test i still have to run.
> oh well, enough babbling, catch ya later guys.
> al
> 
> Allyn Malventano, ET1(SS), USN
> 87 rocco 16v (rieger gto - green - 'der rocco' - restoration in progress)
> 87 jetta 8v wolfsburg 2dr (260k, still tight :)
> 
> 
> 
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