Date:         Thu, 27 Dec 2001 20:47:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Melissa Mourkas <westywoman@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Melissa Mourkas <westywoman@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Another operating temp question
Comments: To: Greg Marshall <earthboy@HOME.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <3C266093.36B8758D@home.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

on 12/23/01 2:54 PM, Greg Marshall at earthboy@HOME.COM wrote:

> What should the operating oil temperature of my aircooled engine be?  On the
> highway, mines's running about 80 celsius.  That's abour 175 fahrenheit.

I'm a little late chiming in, but here's my experience, good or bad.  My 2.0
engine with approx. 30K on it runs anywhere from 160F to 240F under fairly
predictable and *normal* circumstances:  hotter on hot days and at high
freeway speeds, cooler on cold days and at lower speeds.  The oil temp
climbs significantly when I am climbing steep hills, whether fast or slow.
It will occasionally flirt with 250-260F under extreme climbing (like the
11,313' Monarch Pass in Colorado).  I have been told by a well-respected
Vana-guru (and bus guru) that this is pretty normal for an air-cooled
engine. "Don't worry, be happy"!

I am happiest when it's between 180-220F.

My experience only, neither right nor wrong.

--
Melissa Mourkas
81 Westy Basic Camper 'Hilde'