German automakers Volkswagen, Porsche similarities end under hood

An Austrian engineer named Ferdinand Porschetemperature. This enables the engine temperature to
conceptualized the pioneer models of Germanremain in the ideal operating range. The thermostat
automakers Volkswagen and Porsche, and not a fewcloses and allows heat to build up in the engine when
times afterward did the two companies engage inthe engine gets too cold, and it opens and allows heat
technology sharing and parts innovations. Volkswagento be removed by the radiator when the engine
and Porsche models are traditionally built with similarbecomes too warm.
parts specifications, with both companies said to useWithout an up-to-specs radiator, heat is likely to build up
the same parts technology installed on their carin the engine bay and affect car performance. Apart
models.from car overheating and stalling, another downside of
As close as their reported collaboration is, the engineheat buildup on a Volkswagen is a blown head gasket.
bays of Volkswagen and Porsche automobiles areDesigned to keep the cylinder head shut tight, a
where the similarities end. The two companies hadVolkswagen head gasket is responsible for sealing in
earmarked their cars for disparate, and extreme,the high-pressure air and fuel burn materials. It keeps
portions of the automotive market. Translatedthe combustion quality of the fuel, but with the engine
"People's Car," Volkswagen underlines reliability, carheat building up under the hood, the Volkswagen head
handling, and passenger comfort in its models, whilegasket is at risk of blowing up and leaves the burn
Porsche boasts of race-specs automobiles that stressmaterials inside the cylinder loose and not optimized for
engine performance.combustion.
The engine bay is the chief flashpoint of VolkswagenA Porsche head gasket is made differently from
and Porsche similarities. With a reputation built overthose installed on a Volkswagen, in a way similar to
decades of success in races and rallies, Porsche hasthe Volkswagen and OEM Porsche radiators. Made of
been known for powerful engines. In reining in itsthinner and heat-treated steel, the Porsche head
vaunted engine power, Porsche adopted thegasket is necessarily designed to keep up with the
industry-standard reliability of Volkswagen cars. Onlyperformance of the Porsche engine.
that it was improved on account of the more engineWithin the engine bay, a Porsche oil duct serves as
power being churned out under the hood of thefailsafe to a blown head gasket. It provides additional
Porsche.cooling for the engine and keeps the Porsche engine
Heat is one byproduct of engine power production. Inwell-oiled. As in any parts assembly, the Porsche
order that the Porsche can perform flat out in the faceengine is set up to work smoothly if its parts are well
of engine heat, an equally up-to-specs Porschelubricated. A device called Porsche oil filter is installed
radiator acts as a heat exchanger. Heat exchangers,on the inlet to the engine from the oil pump. Fitted with
like the Volkswagen and Porsche radiators, play aa resin impregnated glass filtration media, which sifts oil
critical function in all internal combustion engines. It helpsup to 1 micron level, Porsche oil filters are designed to
keep the vehicle from overheating. Connected tokeep the engine lubricated with clean and quality oil. Its
several channels running through the engine andhigh-performing, high-oil flow filter media ensures that
cylinder head, Volkswagen and Porsche radiatorsyour engine will never run out of good lubrication.
pump into the engine a mixture of water andCompared to Volkswagen parts, the Porsche radiator,
antifreeze to dampen engine heat. Because Porschehead gasket, and oil filter are considered performance
engines are built for performance, Porsche radiator isparts. They complement a high-performing engine and
engineered for higher heat tolerance than what thekeeps in step with the car's power production
Volkswagen radiator can handle.requirement, while Volkswagen parts like the radiator
A device located between the engine and the radiatorsport industry-standard specs. These parts
called the thermostat is another key component ofspecifications of Porsche and Volkswagen models are
Volkswagen and Porsche cooling system. Thechiefly dependent on the engine class of the car,
thermostat remains closed and restricts coolant flowallowing the car to run at the performance level of the
until the engine reaches the thermostat's activationengine.