Club 80-90 Forums

While desperately trying to find a fault with my temperature guage/overheating issue (see electrical section), I noticed that the radiator heats from the top downwards as if it's getting filled from the bottom and not the top as stated in the Haynes manual. I've not traced the pipes yet as the weather was nasty today, but it could be possible that a previous owner crossed the hoses over when they changed the radiator. So, could someone tell me if my Haynes manual is correct when it says that the water should flow from the top to the bottom of the radiator. Also, which way does the thermostat sit? My one is fitted with the spring end pointing downwards, the opposite of what most part catalogues show. It's a 2.1dj. Many thanks.

I think I've seen an anotated picture on here somewhere showing a quite convoluted coolant path within the rad (I seam to remember it's not what I expected). It might be worth doing some searchs to see if you can find it, or I'm sure someone will provide a link to it soon.

With respect to the direction of the thermostat I can't remember which way it goes up, but I remember seeing pictures in catalogues showing it the wrong way up, so you could be right. I'm sure someone will confirm for certain soon.

Hope this is some small help.

Rich

this way up.. so yours is fitted right.
because the thing that allows it to open has to sit in the hot coolant,



coolant flow



so the pipes are on wrong
As you can see both pipes are attached to the bottom of the rad
Coolant comes into the rad and goes across the bottom half then back across the top half where it exits and runs down a pipe to the bottom of the rad

This is why VW put a smaller grill under the big grill, because of the coolant flow was in at the bottom first.

Thanks to you both. As mentioned, Haynes manual states that the coolant enters the top of the radiator first then passes downwards through the radiator which surely can't be right then?

Is that a question or don't you believe the picture?

the text should read from the cylinder head and to the thermostat

Oh no, I'm quearying the Haynes manual!