Running too cold?

[58deadhead]

I have recently installed a VDO oil temp gauge and I struggle to reach 120F winter hasn't even fully hit here in Illinois. Another quick question, my valves are pretty quite until 130-140 degrees and then there is a very faint tap. The engine is brand new and adjusted. Is it normal for VW engines to always have a light tap at operating temp?

[Mikedrevguy]

Have you got thermostat, flaps and all tin accounted for?
What kind of push rods are you using? (Aluminum or steel?) steel may have a bit of valve noise.
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79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

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[58deadhead]

All of the important tins related to cooling are intact. I don't care if it's not going to hurt it but I read somewhere running too cold all the time can be kind of bad thing and I may want to use a oil cooler block off? I don't know what it's called but my valves adjust to 00 rather then the standard .06 and are in spec push rods are steel.

[evilphoton]

sounds like something is off at 120... can you test the sensor/gauge on its own? if you have a food thermometer probe, you could put that down the dipstick tube
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'71 SB - 08/1970
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A pair of Kadrons
VW 028 DVDA, stock 1600 DP
'00 VFR
'01 Blazer

[Danwvw]

Stock Valves are always going to be tapping. But if you have hydraulic lifters then they will be quiet! There is also a trick some do with the oil pressure control relief valves to get more oil pressure that keeps them a lot quieter.
Probably what is happening in your engine is the low oil temperature means you have more oil pressure and that is keeping your valves quiet.
Got down to freezing here the other day and my bus did not want to warm up, Even after a 15 minutes on the highway. I know what my problem is, My thermostat is not closing the flaps all the way and I can't adjust it any more.
See if yours can be re-adjusted. Loosen the bolt to the case and pull your thermostat down all the way then retighten the bolt and see if that helps your oil warm up more.
Photo. You should not need to take the thermostat bracket off as they show it in the photo.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[58deadhead]

I forgot to mention it is a 3 1/2 quart case. If it is not below zero, I can get up to around 140-150 degrees no problem and on the highway I buzz for so far 80 miles at one time. Averaging 75mph little more little less and will reach180 degrees give or take and immediately right back to 145 when I exit. I think I am just getting too much cooling for the incredibly cold weather that has rolled in. But if it isn't damaging for it to run super cool for a few months, I'll leave it alone and should be perfect when it gets hot again.

[58deadhead]

And I have pointed a digital thermometer at the case it is consistent with the VDO guage.

[goober]

"I think I am just getting too much cooling..."

The varying extremes our engines endure. In summer you can't get enough cooling, in winter you can very easily have too much cooling. I never liked the OEM oil cooler in the fan housing setup that much. As soon as the oil thins out enough to go over the cooler, it's being cooled too much. And 'thins out' can mean just about anything with todays oils, pumps and springs. And when you set your flaps do you really know where the head/oil temps are when they're fully open; if you know when and if they fully open?

I have a 1600 SP with oil coolers inside under my rear window with flaps controlled manually. I can be doing 55mph on a 5 deg F day on level ground with little wind with the flaps just about closed and cooler fans off. The heads will be be barely 270 deg F. I like to see a head from 280-310 deg F. Below 260 deg F performance is being impaired. And that's with a non-dog house and no air going over the coolers, coolers in the cab.

And if I should turn the cooler fans on, there's hardly no heat there. I would definitely try to get your oil temp up to reduce wear, keep moisture down in your engine and to improve drivability/performance and to level out the engines operating temp range. How you do that depends on your setup and its variables.

[Danwvw]

This makes me wonder if it the oil temperature regulator valve at the pulley end of the engine has too strong of spring. But the heat does start in the heads so it's probably just a problem with the Air flaps! You could pull your rear tin out (That would warm it up) but you may get some exhaust in the car doing that!
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[58deadhead]

I have reviewed all circumstances and it seems there is no other option but to install a turbo kit to increase temp! If I were a rich man, I'd be a broke man... I have been looking at block off kits with a thermostat that opens an external oil cooler when the desired temp is reached. I think it would solve my too cool issues and any extreme heat I may face in Florida.