diesel vs gas radiator

[Ian0391]

Hey guys,
This weekend I'm going to be changing my thermostat and while I'm at it I thought of maybe changing the rad too. So some back story, I have a 1.6td that was originally equipped with a/c but the a/c has been removed and entirely replaced with non a/c parts minus the fan wiring on the rad. I picked up a rad and fan from a gasser with no a/c from the junkers with the intension of using the mint condtion shroud fan and wiring on my diesel rad. I know there is a difference in the two rads but I'm not sure what it is. Since the gasser rad looks almost brand new and mine is all beat up, I though of just switching is all over including the rad. I heard that the diesel rad cools better but would a beat up diesel rad cool better than a mint gasser rad?

Does anyone know the difference between the two other than the upper hose, and what my best option is?
Thanks for your help, Ian

[TimpanogosSlim]

I have no idea. I understand that the diesel rad doesn't have a cap, but that is how pretty much all modern radiators are.

[AAZTristar]

What kind of vehicle are you talking about?

[Ian0391]

It's in a mk2 golf. As far as I can tell the only difference is the angle of the top hose outlet and how the overflow comes out of the rad vs out of the upper hose. I've heard the diesel rad cools better though.

[RabbitJockey]

It's in a mk2 golf. As far as I can tell the only difference is the angle of the top hose outlet and how the overflow comes out of the rad vs out of the upper hose. I've heard the diesel rad cools better though.

that difference is just the difference between ac and non ac rads.  from what i have seen diesel vs gas there is no difference, ac vs no ac, or the size of the engine is what makes the difference.  some mk1's with ac had a copper radiator, mine did but i swapped it out for a non over flow radiator with the cap on the end cap, cleaned up the engine bay quite a bit, and cools just as well.  my new radiator came from a mk1 scirocco gasser.

[Renax]

Diesel rad without AC is bigger than gasser rad without AC.
However: Diesel MK1 and gasser MK2 runs the same rad...  so it should be enaugh.

[RabbitJockey]

how is it larger?  width?  i've never noticed a difference, other than that the small block gas mk1's had a very narrow radiator

[bajacalal]

There are 3 radiator types VW used on the mk2.

- turbo diesel without a/c AND gas with A/C 675 mm. These are the same.
- turbo or non-turbo diesel with A/C same 675 mm as above, but the only difference is the angle of the outlet is offset more because otherwise it interferes with some engine accessory.
- gas or non-turbo diesel without A/C 525 mm. The smallest radiator. I would not recommend this one.

[RabbitJockey]

ok, i was only refering to mk1, although i know he has a mk2

[Ian0391]

Thanks for the help guys. I measured both rads and the one i pulled from the gasser is the same size as my diesel with ac rad. All the wiring for the fan looks like factory non ac wiring so i guess the previous owner put the bigger rad in there. Glad im fine to use it though.

[bajacalal]

You will need the non-ac hoses if you don't have them already. They're slightly different. Your new radiator (if it's indeed a non-ac or gas w/ ac) should have a nipple for the small hose to the coolant bottle on the radiator too, instead of coming out the upper hose.

[fatmobile]

I think the "tubes" running from left to right are round on a gasser and flat on a diesel,.. MK2.
 Since you have both in hand,.. ??

[Ian0391]

They both look the same to me

[bajacalal]

I think the "tubes" running from left to right are round on a gasser and flat on a diesel,.. MK2.
 Since you have both in hand,.. ??

The tubes that comprise the core of the radiator depend on what the manufacturer decides to do. They don't matter, what matters is it's actual physical size and shape. The older radiators had the small flat tubes with a honeycomb of I think copper mesh stuff between them, but I haven't seen one of those (at least not for a VW) in a long time. The new ones I've seen have round tubes that are made out of aluminum with thin aluminum fins, that look more like something you would see on a window a/c unit. I think the latter is actually a more efficient design.

[fatmobile]

I'm thinking the flat tubes are more efficient because the coolant is closer to the cooling surface.