Club 80-90 Forums

I'm currently on a Euro road trip in my 87 Multivan and my AAZ is having a few issues with over heating. Before embarking on the trip I did a trial run to Holland and found the van hitting high temps on inclines so on return I replaced the radiator, pressure cap and fan temp sensor. This relieved the problem-ish but now in Spain where the daily outside temp regularly tops 40 the radiator fan is constantly on and i have to put the heating on in the back to keep on top of the engine temp.

I've seen on the forum members saying that AAZ's do run hot but is there any way of bringing the temp down to a sensible level? I'm going to take the van off the road over the winter to carry out some mods and restoration which will include fitting a VEGE re-manufactured engine, what if anything should I cansider doing whilst the engine is out to improve cooling?

Any pointers will be greatly received.

PS the trip so far:

Bilboa (Spain)-Tarragona
Tarragona-L'Estartit
L'Estartit-Cadaques
Cadaques-St Cyprien (France)
St Cyprien-Auch
Auch-St Jean de Luz
St Jean de Luz-?

Oil cooler is a must in my opinion.

Apart from that it sounds normal.

Sounds like a great trip btw.....

Ringo

try a new thermostat

ringo wrote:Oil cooler is a must in my opinion.

I'll go with that as well, simple mod, available in kit form ready to bolt on, and makes a real difference.

If it's not had a new 80 degree (A/c) thermostat, get one in there. Then fit an oil cooler. I think Baxter does all you need.

Ringo is right of course, the bigger the better..

Mine's a 19 row, 25 row would have been better, use big bore hoses !!

It might be running a bit retarded, but I'd just keep the revs down for now

Water puffer/spray over radiator face

======

Intercooler is good

Check the wastegate is opening correctly

A different turbo will help (IMO) - one with a less restrictive turbine section (higher A/R)

HarryMann wrote:Rozzo right of course, the bigger the better..

Rozzo on diesel engines? Surely not!

Ringo

Sorry Ringo...

Many thanks chaps,

I'll have a look at an oil cooler as soon as I get back. Where do the hoses go into to? is it a simple job or will i require a grown up to help?

You need an oil filter sandwich plate, which goes between filter and heat exchanger on the filter head - part from MOCAL, either with or without thermostat.
3/8" minimum, ideally 1/2" hosework to front, oil cooler mounted in front of and at bottom of radiator. Hoses usally can be run alongside n/s main chassis member.

Brickwerks used to do complete kits, may still do.
OR
Think Auto do the coolers and sandwich plates

SP1 A or OTSP1A (thermostat)



Just make sure all the union sizes marry up when you order at both ends (or adpaters are provided)

There are Chinese pattern oil coolesr on eBay (your choice), but also proper MOCAL style plate coolers 2nd hand or new for about 1/2 price (a new 19 row is about £90)

Hoses made up by local supplier, 3/8 or 1/2" BSP fittings usually, about 13.5' and 14.5 ' lengths required (about!) Unreinforced £50 to £80, reinforced a lot more.
(Tip: find a tame supplier for cash)

HarryMann,

Many thanks for that info. It sounds like a straight forward job so I'll set to it as soon as the van is off the road.

We are back in blighty now and have worked out that we covered 2254 miles in 5 weeks, averaging 30 miles/gallon of diesel and used approx 0.5 litre of oil. Cruising speed was around 100km/h with the longest single leg being St Jean de Luz on the southern Atlantic coast of France to Cancale in Brittany a total of 740km which we covered in 8 and half hours. Not bad for 22 yr old rust bucket.

Agree, Oil cooler. Use the mocal oil sandwich OTSP1 opens at 80deg, mine from raceparts.
Have you fitted oil temp gauge?

TBH that's the problem with AAZ, TDI doesn't have that hot problem, they do run cool.

D'ya know we did a similiar trip to you the other year,
Calais to Perpignan
Perpignan to L'Estartit - Camping Rifort (on the roundabout, cheap as and spot on),
L'estartit - Torrevijica (full of Russian gangsters)
Torrevijica - South Barcelona
- Andorra
Andorra - St Hiliare de rez
St Hilliare - Bayeux
Bayeux to Calais
And then home

3 weeks, £1500 all in, and plenty of sangria...