All That You Need To Know About Air-cooled Vintage Engine

Your engine's cooling system may not have crossed your mind. This makes sense. Since it serves its purpose, why dwell on it? But how well do you know your car's cooling system? Modern vehicles typically employ a water and coolant mixture in the engine to keep it at a manageable temperature. Coolant isn't necessary for all engines, though. They don't regulate engine temperature or have radiators.

As far as technology goes, it's a relic from the past. It's likely that you've seen a VW air-cooled engine before, even if you didn't know what it was called.

Air-Cooled Engine

Air-cooled engines are based on a deceptively basic idea: allowing air to flow over the engine to disperse heat.

Most current cars have water-cooled engines circulating water and coolant through radiators, water pumps, and hoses. The engine heats the coolant, which is cooled in the radiator and circulated. But this isn't for air-cooled engines. They cool themselves with air. The air cools the radiator fluid in all motors, even water-cooled ones.

Heat is removed from air-cooled engines using fins. Car fans blow cool air over the fins. The speed of an airplane or motorcycle is sufficient to push cold air over the fins and away from the engine.

Ducts around air-cooled engines direct air to the hottest parts. Baffling systems may channel high-pressure air into cooling fins in some aircraft engines. Horizontal cylinders facing each other lower an air-cooled engine's temperature. The fins can freely flow air. Oil coolers lower oil temperature in some air-cooled engines.

Features of Air-Cooled Engine

The water pump and radiator in an air-cooled engine never need to be changed because of coolant leaking. In most cases, they weigh less than their liquid-cooled counterparts because they require fewer moving components. When driving in severely cold weather, an air-cooled engine is preferable since it warms up much faster than a liquid-cooled one, and there is no fear of coolant freezing.

However, there are also major negatives to consider. Air-cooled engines, to begin with, are more susceptible to overheating. Indeed, that is disappointing. Large fans used to cool the engine can be a significant drain on power and be more expensive to construct. This is not to say that air-cooled engines cannot perform well. However, the air-cooled engine is ideal for motorbikes, RVs, and some types of aircraft.

Common applications of Air-Cooled Engines

The air-cooled engine has a rich heritage and widespread popularity.  A few manufacturers produced vehicles powered by air-cooled engines in the 1960s and 1970s. A VW air-cooled engine was liked by everybody, just as the 1964 Porsche 911's air-cooled motor. You'll find an air-cooled engine if you climb on a motorcycle, ATV, or even a regular riding mower. Many helicopters and small planes have been air-cooled from the start; therefore, aircraft have the longest air-cooled track record.

At Air Cooled Vintage Works you can get your hands on the high-quality and robust VW air-cooled engine at a very reasonable price. Get connected to us for more details.