Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 19:50:26 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: '80 Westfalia-- best way to drive over passes
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Just use whatever gear it takes to keep it climbing.
The best RPM range is 2900 to 3500, so you might find a tach helpful.
Engine temperature is also a factor. One rule about type IV engines is
try not to overheat them.
I've got oil temp and cylinder head temp and it helps to monitor these
things too.
The oil temp should never go over 260/270 and I can't say about cylinder
head temp because I've never seen mine over about 360 on the hottest 110
days I've driven it at highway speeds.
On my last trip up Mt Ranier I found plenty of nice senic lookouts to
take 30 minute breaks.
Post to www.type2.com or search their archives they're all air cooled
and you may get a more specific response.
Stan Wilder
On Mon, 21 Jan 2002 16:23:20 -0800 phil hans <hansph_99@YAHOO.COM>
writes:
> Hi everyone,
>
> What are people's opinions of the best way to drive
> over steep passes with the vanagon? What I mean is,
> what is the best way to do it to bring the smallest
> amount of harm to the drive train of this van? If you
> are going over a steep pass in a mountain for 50
> minutes, should you just go slow, like 30 mph? The
> slower you go, the easier it is on the transmission
> and the axles, etc. Or, is it better to go over the
> pass at 80% of the speed of a particular gear, like,
> either 30 mph in 2nd gear, or 48mph in 3rd gear? If
> you push the vanagon, will you hurt the engine? I've
> managed to go over passes alright, but I was
> interested in an authoritative opinion on this
> subject. Obviously, these vehicles don't have the
> most powerful engines in the world, but is the tranny
> and the axles stronger, or is the whole drive train
> weak? Is just the engine the weak part?
>
> The idea is not to take this vehicle over a ton of
> passes, but if you can't avoid it, what's the best
> approach? I have an aircooled with a rebuilt engine
> with 30,000 miles on it. It is doing fine and I want
> to keep it that way. Sorry for overwriting. :-)
>
> Thanks, Phil Hanson
>
>
>
>
>
>
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