Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 10:51:40 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Tempurature
Ben,
Usually you are a source of good information, but this time, not so good.
First, the high speed fan kicks in at the correct temperature; that is when
climbing a long steep grade or a similar situation where the engine is being
stressed beyond normal limits.
If you are having problems with your cooling system, perhaps your radiator
is clogged, or you may have an air bubble in the system. The Vanagon
cooling system works quite well, and really does not need to be tinkered
with.
You may drive it all day with the gauge at 3/4. Nothing really wrong with
that. Should it continue to climb above that point, it is good to keep a
sharp eye on it, and be prepared to pull over IMMEDIATELY should you get the
dreaded blinking red LED.
Second, if you choose to use the lower temperature thermostat, be prepared
to lose about 2 miles per gallon of gas. The entire fuel injection system
is tuned for the correct t'stat.
Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben huot" <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: Tempurature
> On my 87 there is only 2 speeds, the lower one come ON at the upper part
of
> the cooling level light and the high speed at about 3/4, this is to
high!(I
> have a manual switch for the second speed)
>
> The engine temperature should be about the same in wintertime and summer
> time on a Westy and on most car. This is the reason we have thermostat on
> our vehicle, in winter time the thermo is mostly or partially close. In
> summer time or hot temp condition, it is open or partially open to
maintain
> the perfect temperature. So the needle should always be at the same
> position, especially at cruising speed.
>
> In heavy traffic it is normal that the temperature climbs a bit but the
rad
> fan should regulated the temperature just above the cooling light. The
temp
> should go down as fast as she went up when you star driving forward. NEVER
> RUN THIS VAN AT 3/4 GAUGE READING
>
> The new VW OEM gauge temp sensor give a higher READING, about +10% more,
> the new OEM thermo maintain a higher temperature, about +15%, VW Canada
> told me that the engine was running to cold before-------bullshit. (So
what
> you see in the front dash gauge whit those new parts is an increase of
> about 20-25% on the dash gauge if you change both parts for new OEM parts,
> not good!
>
> Monitor closely the condition of the Water pump, thermostat and front
> radiator. A partially clogged front radiator could react slowly and result
> in a slow temperature change as the coolant is having a hard time flowing
> trough this one.
>
> Have a pressure test done on the cooling system, look for leak, internal
or
> external.
>
> Special note:
> I met a very nice fellow the past weekend; he had a simple solution to the
> head gasket-leaking problem and other "dried oil seal problem" on VW van.
> Lower temperature thermostat!!!
>
> This guy is an old VW mechanic; he worked 30 years with the same VW dealer
> (and of course is speciality was the flat-4). He now buy and sell
> vanagon-Westy for pleasure (he says that the older model are to rusty). He
> personally owns a 90GL (in perfect condition with only 45k miles and a
1966
> bus with the small scare pop top (A beauty). He confirms what I was
> thinking; the normal operating temperature on a vanagon is to high with
the
> new VW 87deg thermostat, the flexible heads gasket dry-up (I should say
> cooked) easily and faster at that temperature. This guy did more head
> change that all of us join together. He as nothing to prove, he is very
> discreet and don't talk much. But he is always carrying a photos album
whit
> over 15 different westy that he owns over the past 35 years. Sadly he
> doesn't know shit about Internet. He also stated that the lack of fresh
air
> as always been the problem on all the VW rear engine van, even the
> water-cooled.
> Note that this is not my personal comment, it's a professional VW mechanic
> comment, and I should add a truly westy lover.
>
> Since he started putting lower thermostat on all the van he sells (long
> time ago-10years), he never he had to replace a head gasket. His words!
>
> My conclusion:
> The hell with VW new higher temperature thermostat, get the 80-82deg
> thermostat from Bus depot or other good parts dealer, monitor your cooling
> system carefully, change parts before they break, add oil pressure sender,
> temp oil sender and gauge to your van. Change the coolant each 2 years.
> Rebuilt engine are getting rare and expensive.
>
> You are better off cooler than to hot!
>
> My 2cents, Ben
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
>
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