TB coolant plate bypass a success!

[christophbmw]

Just another data point: While I might not recommend it for everyone, I deleted it on both my m10 318 and my E36 325 and never had problems with VA winters, with temps well below freezing. I don't know at what temp TB icing is really a problem, but it must be pretty darn low. Heck, many cars don't even have coolant passing through the TB, makes me think it might just be a German overengineering thing. They wanted to make sure you could drive in Greenland or something. :p

its not just a matter of how cold it gets, but what the relative humidity is also. I dont know how humid it is where you live but in most parts of europe (and even in some central states) high humidity with low temps could be a problem.

(personally i think it was put on there for smog reasons, but im no expert at smog laws).

[AL GReeNeRy]

the coolant lines to the TB were put there to help warm the air entering the TB while the engine is cold.  it has nothing really to do with emissions since most smog techs SUGGEST you completely warm your car up before getting it smogged.  as for condensation freezing your TB, that wont happen.  it isnt like having coolant and water in your block with no antifreeze where the water freezes up, expands, and cracks your block.  the passages in the TB are facing downwards, so any condensation will most likely juss drip out...  even if it didnt, your TB would just stay cold which could cause difficult cold engine start ups.  other than that there are no problems with it at all...

[tjts1]

I have a question. Is it safe to simply plug the small coolant port in the middle of the cyl head and eliminate all the coolant hoses between there and #18? Obviously its more complicated than that because the hot coolant is routed through the ICV hose and the crankcase ventilation. What I'm trying to get at is: Does that port help cool the engine or is it there simply for the benefit of the TB plates?
Thanks