Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 22:39:21 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: Overheated on steep grade in the Rockies/Questions??
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> Here are the questions:
>
> 1.I had to climb the hill real slowly sometimes as low as in 2nd gear in
the
> steepest parts. Probably only going 35 MPH to 40 MPH tops in spots in 3rd
> gear--although at times could get up to 50 while climbing in some spots.
Is
> this normal for a bus with a 1.9L? I always knew it was underpowered,
but....
>
I would say that with a heavily loaded westy this is normal to have to shift
down to 2nd gear on really steep long mountain climbs... and BTW in 2nd gear
you were more likely doing 25 or so mph!!!
The guys from the east will say it is not normal... but don't listen to
them... they don't know what real mountains are like :)
But the overheating and boiling is NOT normal... even on climbs like
this.... How hot was the outside air temperature anyway???
> 2. I guess the answer in the future is to open both the front and rear
heater
> valves and man the fan switches, turning them on when the needle rises too
> high. (BTW the german's let me down with the rear heater switch under the
> seat and not controllable from the cockpit) But does the 2,000 or so foot
> elevation gain in a short distance account for enough strain on the engine
to
> create a situation where it would definately overheat without the heaters
> open ? (Remember I could only travel at about 35 MPH at times and was
revving
> up around 4200--sometime higher-- at times because a higher gear would
keep
> the bus moving for the most part.
You might want to keep it under 4000....
It would lose MPH and RPMs) Should the
> radiator fan compensate for the slow speed of the bus enough to prevent
> overheating under this condition? Should I be investigating a radiator fan
> problem or a poorly functioning radiator?
Well, sounds like the fan was working...
When did you change your coolant last???? Could be air pockets... that will
make it heat up! Other things to check... thermostat... coolant % vs water %
... water pump ... combustion getting into coolant (internally blown head
gasket)(would have bubbles in coolant tank/not from boiling... and maybe
white smoke exhaust)?
>
> Any tricks, advice, or similar experience would help ease my mind. I won't
be
> in the area forever, but do plan to come back on and off.
>
> FWIW I have a new VW canadian engine about 30,000 miles ago.
Any engine at any milage can have problems :(
Good Luck,
Bill
All new
> hoses--except the heater hoses, thank goodness. Wish I replaced the heater
> hoses while I had the system open. The needle on my temp gauge runs just
> above the LED light--meaning toward the high side--undernormal conditions
and
> always has for the 4 years I've owned the bus.
>
> TIA. Colorado is beautiful, BTW.
>
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> formerly of NYC, currently in CO.
>