Oil Cooler not coming on poss regulator issues

Hi all, hope someone can help.

Car is a 1982 1.8Gti 8 valve

I've been thinking for a while that car is running a bit hot, flushed cooling system and fitted a replacement radiator.

Cooling has been better but I noticed even after driving for 5 miles and 10 miles the Oil Cooler matrix is still cool.

the oil filter flange is as hot as the radiator hoses, the pipes to the oooler are warm to hot but not as hot as the flange the oil cooler bracket is warm but the oil cooler is cold.

I have removed the regulator from the housing the spring is intact and the regulator looks ok. What movement should there be of the pin that runs through the regulator.

Should this be moving up and down as mine has no movement at all. I did not want to apply to much force in case I damaged it.

I was tempted to run the car without the regulator for a couple of miles to make sure it was not the oil cooler is blocked, will this be ok for a short run to prove the oil cooler will allow oil to flow through.

 Thanks in anticipation.

driving for 5 miles and 10 miles

You need a very warm day and a good hard thrash to get the oil up to temp , it will probably be fine . What does the oil temp say on the MFA ? Assuming you have MFA ?

Cheers …….

Thanks Chudd

mfa not working have ordered oil temp gauge will fit that and see what readings I get

is it worth removing the regulator and giving it a short run to ensure oil cooler is not blocked ?

I wouldn't , its not something that fails very often .

Wait till you have a working temp and see what temp you have .  

Cheers …….

I removed the regulator earlier, the pin was seized so I pulled it out and cleaned it and lubricated it with 3in1 oil and refitted it

ran the car for 7 miles oil cooler was still cool

I then fitted a racetech oil temp gauge with the correct sender that Demon tweaks sent me and ran car for 1 mile and was getting reading of 150!

oil cooler was still cool

How exactly does the oil cooler regulator work and what parts should be moving ? Is it just the pin/needle. I noticed on the other end it has 110 stamped on it which I presume is the teperature that it should open at.

I checked with VW they dont have one at the factory so I will have to recondition mine.

I will remove the regulator again and examine/clean/lubricate it again, I will probably also remove and examine/flush the oil cooler.



Any advice very welcome

150 not good sounds like stat had it , should open at 80 . Look for a good 2nd hand item ? Always some on ebay or try a wanted add ? Or you could fit a later after market item

Sorry to hear , bad luck .  
Cheers …………

Thanks for help Chudd

Oil cooler was not receiving oil, removed regulator for short period (2 secs) ran engine for 2 seconds plenty of oil coming out of the pipe to the oil cooler.

Replaced oil cooler (GSF) and still not receiving oil. Stripped down regulator and appears not to be working correctly. So pulled plunger out and fitted large washer to keep it open and replaced oil cooler regulator valve so it is constantly open. Oil is now flowing into oil cooler.

Fitted Oil temp gauge and oil warms up after 7  mins to c80-85, I also have 2 oil pressure gauges fitted one to the oil filter flange and the other to the cylinder head, also an after market water temp gauge (centre console is getting crowded).

Since doing the above the oil temp after warm up goes between 80 and 100. The pressure at 2k rpm is 50-60 psi the filter flange and 30-40 psi at the cylinder head. The water temp gauge goes to c85 then fan cuts in and brings it back down. So all seems ok. More info to follow.

I did a 150 mile round trip to Santa Pod yesterday, a run which included cruising at 75-80 on M6/M1, some country lane mild spirited driving (following mates in a Mk1 16 valve and a MK3 G60 conversion) and being sat in the queue to get in to Santa Pod for 50 mins at outside temp of 18 degrees water temp never went above 85 ish as fan kept coming on oil temp peaked at 100 when it was sat in queue at Santa Pod.

I have also covered 150 miles locally in last 2 weeks and oil light has not come on (touch wood).

I know all the gauges seem over the top in fact the chap at Demon Tweeks tried to talk me out of the 2nd oil pressure gauge. However, it gives me great peace of mind that I can check oil temp, water temp, oil pressure at filter/flange and also at cylinder head.

 sat in the queue to get in to Santa Pod for 50 mins

Good test for any engine !

Pleased you are sorted

Cheers ……………….