Flaps

I'm thinking of fitting thermostat flaps and associated gubbins on my van to eliminate the sludgy oil thing . Are they easy to source and fit ??. It's a 1600tp and I will have the engine out to change the gearbox when it gets back from the painters (again ).

 

Easy enough to do with the engine out.

 

Megabug usually have all the bits. Pricey though..

 

Got my VW thermostat from 3901mick I think he had a few for sale so may be worth asking. Don't buy the cheap Chinese one iv read that if they break they close the flaps and will cook your engine. If the VW one breaks it keeps the flaps in the open positioned.

The rod I got from GSF and bracket from e-bay both around £5. Everything else I already had on the engine so wasn't too expensive.

 

Sounds like you've got everything. Fitting and adjusting them is easy. Your engine will thank you for it. If the thermostat's contracted at room temp, it's a good 'un. If it's fully expanded all the time, it's a duffer.

 

*YAWN*

Mine hasn't had any in since forever .

*Dons tin hat*

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You'll die! You will.

 

I’ve got flaps but they don’t open

 

Even having flaps and thernostat doesnt help if you never drive it hard enough or far enough to get it hot in the first place.

 

You’ve been reading How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive haven’t you.

 

Don't forget to disconnect your automatic choke!

 

Having just read this I haven't a clue what these are, whether I have them and if I should be worried either way...

 

The thermostatically-controlled flaps that live in the fan shroud on a type 1 engine. Often go missing.

 

.... or some owners just carn't be arsed with all this internet faff ..


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I'm guilty as I couldn't be bothered to reconnect everything on a 1300 bug I had once had and took all the linkages and flaps out.
Ran well but the oil pressure came on once to complain. It never really got that hot though here with only having short runs. All the same I would
not recommend that and make the effort to keep all the flaps etc. connected to the thermostat.

 

do you not get white sludge in your breather pipe ? Mine keeps blocking with the stuff which is why I'm thinking of fitting the thermostat.

 

Sounds like you just don’t do enough long runs.

The flaps help the engine warm up quicker, but you’d only be able to check any difference by how quickly your barrels and bearings wear out.

 

Going to work is about 1 1/2 miles so your right it's not getting hot enough ,I'm not sure a thermostat would help much but worth a try if I can get the bits cheap .

 

Likely the short journeys are causing the muck. The engine’s unlikely to be reaching proper operating temps.