Thick or Thin

splitbus67 · Padawan Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 52 Location: Upt Norf

Just starting on a EJ20 conversion in our Split, so I've been reading up on the different radiator setups and was wondering if anybody had any advise on radiator thickness, would a thin core radiator (18mm) be better as it would offer less air resistance than the thicker duel core radiators which offer greater cooling surface area.

Also does anybody have any advise on the routing of the pipework between engine and rad on a split screen van.

Bundy · Padawan Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Cheshire

No idea on a split screen as mines a bay, but I'm doing the same conversion as we speak and have gone for thin rather than thick due to the restrictive flow already on a horizontal radiator...making it thick will just make it worse.
That said...mines still in construction so I can't comment on it's effectiveness!!! I'm using a Renault Master van rad...got the in and out at one end, pretty big and cheap on fleabay Grin

Where 'up norf' are you?

Cheers
Al

ricola · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:02 pm Post subject:

Generally frontal area is more efficient than thickness of the radiator, but for a given installation, thick is more efficient than thin due to the bigger surface area exposed to the coolant.
There are diminishing returns on how thick you can go but that would be extremely thick before improvements stopped.
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splitbus67 · Padawan Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 52 Location: Upt Norf

Al, we are in Skipton North Yorkshire.

Bundy · Padawan Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Cheshire

bit further up than me then Grin

Sunny Congleton, Cheshire for me!
Good luck with the conversion

Joel · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:55 am Post subject:

Like Ricola said the single row thin rads are more efficient, the only reason for double row thicker rads is space constraints

I've had both in my bug
My first rad was a single row mazda jobbie that had a core size of 15" high and 22" wide, it worked really well and only reason I ditched it was it took up too much boot space.

My new one is a double row Alfa rad
It's 22" wide same as the other but only 10" high so in terms of capacity it's about 30 % bigger than the Mazda rad but it actually takes longer for the fans to bring the temp down.

This is mainly due to the 2nd row not working as efficiently due to the heat from the first row and slower air flow through it.

It's also a cross flow rather than the top to bottom like the other which makes it slightly less efficient than the other but this wouldnt matter in a bus when its laying over flat.

If you have the space go thinner single row.
_________________
1974 1303 Germanlook Suba-Beetle
Subaru EJ254, BoostR 17", 4 Wheel discs, Topline suspension and A/C

13 window deluxe · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:31 am Post subject:

what he said with multicore rads as the air travels through each core it gets heated by the last core so the thus the efficency drops on the later cores, ive got a 20mm thick rad on my tdi split and that keeps it nice and cool i'd say airflow through rad is more inportant than size
_________________
1964 rat 13 window deluxe 1Z tdi,
1975 rhd twin slider tintop (TBA)
1991 golf 2 gti with tweaked AHU tdi,

previous tdi swaps: gone but not forgotten
1979 rhd twin slider tintop bay ahu 1.9tdi
1990 T25 1Z 1.9tdi
1993 suzuki samurai with 1Z 1.9tdi

splitbus67 · Padawan Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 52 Location: Upt Norf

Thanks gents, this is what I suspected, thin its is.

RatCamper · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 11:27 am Post subject:

I've got a 3 layer that disperses heat really well. True with diminishing returns, but brute force is winning.