Date:         Tue, 5 Sep 2000 00:21:05 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Overheated on steep grade in the Rockies/Questions??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

My 83.5 Westy overheated today climbing on Route 70 from Vail down toward
Denver. (While the destination was lower than where I started there's a real
long steep grade to go up before you head down. I think you hit above 10,000
feet on the highway).

I had my front heater on but not the heater fan. The gauge was high, but
seemingly not higher than it's been in the past climbing steep grades in the
Rockies. But the light started to flash and I immediately pulled over to let
the engine cool for about 45 minutes. I lost some coolant through the
overflow--maybe a quart tops--probably more like a pint. But you should have
heard that coolant boiling when I opened the engine compartment. Not real
cool at all. I htough, "S@#$*, somethings gonna blow," but luckly it didn't.

When all was cool I added a 50/50 mix of (autobahn phoshate free) coolant and
water to the expansion tank through the license plate opening to bring it up.
Then again added a little once I got down the mountain.

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....

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. 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?

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. 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.