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bayamus Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2010 Posts: 107 Location: Madison, WI
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject: Heat insulation to cool engine bay? |
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I'm looking at a product called Thermal Block from Second Skin and considering applying it to the engine bay to help cool the engine. I don't quite understand insulation completely but I believe it would just reflect the heat back. So if I put it on the deck lid would it actually make the engine hotter? How about if I put it on the bottom to reflect the muffler/exhaust heat back away from the engine?
If it's on the bottom would it force the heat out toward the vents in the lid?
Thanks in advance. _________________ '72 Super Beetle |
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vugbug68 Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2006 Posts: 2696 Location: sacramento
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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keeping your engine tuned is the best way to keep it cool, I have heard that black is the best color to have in the engine bay _________________ 71 Super - Backroad Thrasher
66 Corvair - Weekend Cruiser
90 4 Runner - Muddin |
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fastinradford Samba Member
Joined: June 08, 2008 Posts: 2895 Location: Athens Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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They had no problems running stock bugs ALL OUT in deserts when tuned properly and all tin in place/seals too.
It is not needed.
Glenn is (dont quote me on this) near 200hp and has no issues after years of a stock cooling setup on his 2180/ _________________ 95 jetta 5spd, (first waterpumper vw)
the nice 74 Ghia, (of course the fiance drives that one).
My mk1 jetta 1.6d
"It'd still be like my grandads old broom though, original, only 3 new heads and two new handles" -Marv [UK] |
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bayamus Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2010 Posts: 107 Location: Madison, WI
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:13 am Post subject: |
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I don't mean this in a rude way but I'm not really interested in anyone's opinion on whether it is "necessary" to cool the engine bay or not, I'm only interested in the possibilities of doing it. Plenty of stock bugs drive around to this day with little to no problems but that doesn't keep dozens of aftermarket parts from coming out, stuff like oil coolers and whatnot. I'm purely interested in knowledge about insulation and if it would be possible to cool down the engine bay area.
Thank you for your concern on keeping the engine tuned. _________________ '72 Super Beetle |
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Stripped66 Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2005 Posts: 3470 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Heat insulation to cool engine bay? |
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bayamus wrote: |
I'm looking at a product called Thermal Block from Second Skin and considering applying it to the engine bay to help cool the engine. I don't quite understand insulation completely but I believe it would just reflect the heat back.
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Insulation simply adds resistance to the transfer of heat from one side of the insulative barrier to the other side of the insulative barrier.
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So if I put it on the deck lid would it actually make the engine hotter?
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Technically, yes; insulation on the decklid would retain heat in the engine bay.
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How about if I put it on the bottom to reflect the muffler/exhaust heat back away from the engine?
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Technically, yes; that's if the insulation will hold up to temperatures found around the case, heads, and exhaust.
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If it's on the bottom would it force the heat out toward the vents in the lid?
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No. Air is being drawn into the vents in the lid. Any heat in the engine compartment is going to warm the incoming air before it enters the engine and cooling shroud; depending on who you ask, this could be significant (claims Jake Raby) or not (claims Eric Allred). The latter may be especially true if all of the stock cooling tin is in place and no hot air from the underside of the engine can recirculate back into the engine compartment, which is testament to the performance of the original cooling tin. In any case, heat "going out the vents" is generally not going to happen, and the temperature of the decklid itself generally results from radiative heat transfer from the engine and surrounding tin.
As others have mentioned, what you suggest is not necessary; not because the cooling system is already sufficient (which it is), but because the gains you will achieve through further insulation are negligible, and certainly will not compensate for additional engine heat related to poor engine tune. _________________
66brm wrote: |
Bodacious wrote: |
Why not just make a custom set of wires with a Y splice in them. Then you could just run one distributor. |
I don't think electrickery works that way |
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bayamus Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2010 Posts: 107 Location: Madison, WI
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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That was a brilliant and thorough response, Stripped66, and I appreciate it. I will drop this silly idea. However I may add some insulation to the fuel tank in order to help keep it cool and minimize vapor issues. Or is there a reason this wouldn't work?
Thanks again. _________________ '72 Super Beetle |
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tattooed_pariah Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2006 Posts: 2047 Location: El Cajon, CA
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Stripped.... I'm actually a little in awe.....
I think that may have been the first time I have EVER seen a completely coherant and well thought out answer to a question, presented in a respectful and intelligent manner, with no accusing or belittling or any other negative aspects on this board.
Seriously man, that was great, I wish even half of the posts here could be answered like you just answered this one.. _________________ -pariah (just a novice from "that other VW site")
'72 Volksrod "Effigy"
"Never worry about stepping on people's toes. People who get their toes stepped on are either sitting down, or standing still on the job."
-Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN(ret.) |
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Stripped66 Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2005 Posts: 3470 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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tattooed_pariah wrote: |
I think that may have been the first time I have EVER seen a completely coherant and well thought out answer to a question, presented in a respectful and intelligent manner, with no accusing or belittling or any other negative aspects on this board.
Seriously man, that was great, I wish even half of the posts here could be answered like you just answered this one.. |
Don't worry, I'm gonna turn the @sshole back on later this evening...
_________________
66brm wrote: |
Bodacious wrote: |
Why not just make a custom set of wires with a Y splice in them. Then you could just run one distributor. |
I don't think electrickery works that way |
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tattooed_pariah Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2006 Posts: 2047 Location: El Cajon, CA
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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I was gonna ask if you were drunk or something... _________________ -pariah (just a novice from "that other VW site")
'72 Volksrod "Effigy"
"Never worry about stepping on people's toes. People who get their toes stepped on are either sitting down, or standing still on the job."
-Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN(ret.) |
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Stripped66 Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2005 Posts: 3470 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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tattooed_pariah wrote: |
I was gonna ask if you were drunk or something... |
I'm usually short in response to the questions that are asked repeatedly, ad nauseum. This guy asked a decent question and wanted a non-BS answer, so I figured I'd give him one. _________________
66brm wrote: |
Bodacious wrote: |
Why not just make a custom set of wires with a Y splice in them. Then you could just run one distributor. |
I don't think electrickery works that way |
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Randy in Maine Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003 Posts: 34890 Location: The Beach
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Generally insulating the fuel tank to keep it cool is really not needed. There really is no source of heat near the tank (even in a bus). ACVWs generally do not vapor lock unless something is really amiss.
Insulation and noise deadener generally are ov value to the driver however. |
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