Type 4 Thermostat Alternative.

@Top Banana Racing I would mount the heatsink in the same position as the original thermostat,unless you don't think it would work there

 

I'm not trying to do you out of business dude.
Just trying to offer an alternative to the cost of a thermostat, wheel, bracket, wire etc (cost about £100?) and then you HAVE to have undertins to make it work. (cost 4 hen's teeth) and all of that is for an item that wasn't designed for that engine and is known not to be the most reliable.

 

That's my point, the original thermostat relied upon having perfect tinware and was susceptable to weather conditions, it was just floating around in mid air, not like an oil temp gauge, this won't be, once calibrated it will move when the engine/oil temp is correct so incomplete tins, performance exhausts, dodgy weather etc will have no effect
I'm sensing a lot of negativity towards this project but none of it seems to have any base in real fact, has this been done before and failed? If so please tell me as I have precious little time and even less money!

 

Not being negative at all I really like the innovation. Is it going to be triggered from oil temp then? As opposed to air temp?

 

Sorry that comment wasn't really directed at you, I should've put it in a seperate post but I'm forgetful and have to type things when I think of them.
Yep, I have a heat sink which can be placed anywhere I choose, oil temp (and the quicker warming of the engine) is the reason for thermostats so it stands to reason that trying to reduce any outside influence can only be a good thing.
I'm sure that if the technology had been available at reasonable cost then VW wouldn't have made a Brass expanding module with all the inherent problems that produces.
Essentially I have an oil temp sender unit which has some elctrickery which means I can adjust the trigger (or in this case de-trigger) at ANY temp.
The process of development has already been quickened by comments made on here and anything that provokes thought is most welcome.

 

Not taken that way at all, Good on you for investing the time and effort into the R&D on this. I think it will be a great alternative. Just wasn't sure if people were aware the type 1 can be modified twas all.

All my best with it dude!

 

No doode. Its innovative and I really like your thought process and am enjoying reading this. I see your point re negativity but I dont think its necesserilily intended, I just think you deserve more positivity, encouragement and credit for doing it. Im defo up for doing same or similar as I like my electrics and finding my own ways around things! Keep it coming....

 

You could mount an ip waterproof rated solenoid (again more costly) in the original position to directly replace the thermostat but personally i think using case or oil temp would be the best solution / improvement in controlling the system

 

I Like the idea TBR, IMHO idealy you would have a different temperature setting for on and off to allow for the thermal inertia but if you only have the one setting I'd be inclined to put it where temperature reacts quickly like near the heads. If you drive with a cylinder head temp gauge and oil temp gauge you can see that the cylinder head temp gauge reacts very quickly to a heavy foot but comes back much quicker too, the oil temperature can lag quiet a bit after it. But in fairness it's probably just be on all the time once its hot, you could also put an overide switch to make sure you have full cooling when you want it, I had an auld Kawasaki like that by the time the thermostat kicked in in traffic is could be too late so I put a manual switch on it.

 

Yeah, up on top of the fan case where it's warm and dry seems like the best idea. I have limited access to and knowledge of what's available so it's trial and error then report and modify.
Tonight's test is "burn out" I'm going to put the servo motor on full load for 30 mins to see if it takes it, the spec says it will but I want to be sure, I'd rather burn out £10 now than find out later. Can't see an engine taking more than 30 mins to get warmed up.

I think the 5 wire solenoid may give me that overide facility.

 

Sorry if I seemed -ve. Just keeping you on your toes and it's interesting to hear your thought processes. Great work.
If it's a success though you really need to make it look sexy.

 

you could put an override in parallel with the control circuit on a 2 or 3 wire solenoid if thats all you can get. just add a live feed junction in the live output wire from the temp controller OR a n/c and n/o relay in series with the controller output. temp control wired to normally closed with relay override switch energising to close the normally open contact to supply full volts to solenoid at any given moment.....and breath

your trying a servo motor too now?

when im in work friday il look in spares catalogue / directory for waterproof ip65 solenoids etc so it could be possible to just fit where original thermostat is, thats if you want original oem look

 

we will have little plc's under the hood next

 

And in English?

 

Following what @zed said I'm moving my thinking to a stepper motor arrangement as they're not as expensive as I thought.

 

I can make a drawing or did you follow what I said? It was I that suggested stepper motor fella I didnt think they were that expensive. where did you source the solenoid ram from, im looking now.

A stepper motor can be put in a more discreet location. even if on top it will look really trick!

 

That'd be handy.
I need 20mm of movement.

 

where did you source the blue one you have got? il put a drawing together for you

 

The blue one is an aftermarket central locking style thing. Came from China (doesn't everything).
The temp signal basically sends 12v signal up to set temp then just switches off.
I think something nice and HD, industrial perhaps, a stepper and controller, the controller can go in the same enclosure.

 

This is simplified ish drawing to use an override relay that will; if either temp controller, ram or relay fails it will fail in a safer condition.