Do I Use A Gti Or Diesel Radiator In My 1.6 Gti?

[Atari Boy 11]

I need to replace my radiator and thermostat on my 89 1.6 GTi; I have heard that a diesel rad is a better replacement than a standard GTi one.

 

Is this true? If so, will I need to do any modifications to install it or would it be a straight swap?

Any advice, tips or guidance would be appreciated regarding which one to use and the install.

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

[Baz 421]

Diesel ones are just thicker, IMO the std ones are fine, i'd go with a nice ally one though, Nissens or similar.

[t16ryan 1]

Yeah GTi one will be fine

[Ryan 99]

The n/a diesel rad is exactly the same as the GTI rad. Only the turbo diesel rad is bigger - about twice as thick.

 

There isn't much point to swapping them really. The standard rad is fine cooling wise.

[lee-bg 0]

i got nissens for my 1,9 8v , but now i use it for Mi16 conversion. It seem to work fine

 

p.s. you can put lower temp. thermostat to feel 'cool' i.e. 82/83 C degrees opening. Normal ones open on 89 C.

Edited June 5, 2007 by lee-bg

[Spiky 37]

Diesel ones are just thicker, IMO the std ones are fine, i'd go with a nice ally one though, Nissens or similar.

 

 

can you tell me where from and a rough price?

[M_R_205 5 1 Cars]

deffinatley an ally one, i got one off ebay for about 50 quid 4 years back and i cleand it yesterday (along with everything else in the engine bay) and it came up like new, no rust (obviously) no problems, just big and shiney

[jas-E 1]

can you tell me where from and a rough price?

 

Got my Nissens one from Euro Car Parts for under £50 about 2 years ago. The diesel and GTi rad is the same - only the position of the thermostat is different. You just blank the opening that you are not going to use with a blanking screw that is provided with the radiator.

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

As already said several times, the n/a diesel & GTI rad's are the exact same one.

only the position of the thermostat is different. You just blank the opening that you are not going to use with a blanking screw that is provided with the radiator.

The thermostat is in the engine not the rad, I assume you must mean the fan switch position.

 

Graham.

[jas-E 1]

The thermostat is in the engine not the rad, I assume you must mean the fan switch position.

 

Graham.

 

Sorry mate, meant fan switch position.

[Atari Boy 11]

So should I go for the lower temp themostat then?

[M_R_205 5 1 Cars]

id say yea, but then i threw mine in the bin... bad idea but still