Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 07:10:20 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
The fans were added to modern cars because the newers vehicles were more
tightly cowled and that restricted airflow. Additionally, the newer
aluminum engines are more susceptible to heat damage that the old cast
iron block engines. Thus the automatic fans.
My very first experience with the radiator fans was with a 1972 Jaguar
XKE that I bought. It was sweet. powder blue, convertible, stick shift,
4 carburetors, 12 cylinders, bumps on its nose (to acommodate the 4
carbs) big radiator, but incredible heat!! And DUAL radiator fans!!!
Couldn't beleive how hot that engine got. Never overheated. Ran like a
scalded jack rabbit. But hot. If you had the top up in summer due to
weather it got really hot inside just from engine heat leaking in.
Always had to run with windows open. Even in winter in the south it
would get uncomfortably hot inside. But I you were moving forward at a
reasonable speed the radiatorwas adequate. Slower and both fans came on.
It was an interesting but expensive vehicle to own and operate.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Greg Kriss wrote:
>Have a 90 Carat with an auto trans. Engine has maybe 150K on it. The van runs fine, minimal oil useage and almost no coolant useage. Normal driving, running around town, or at 60mph on the highway, the temp guage always stays cool below the idiot light in the center of the guage. But when I get stuck in a traffic jam, after a few minutes the van runs hotter with the guage needle above the idiot light. I was stuck in a 5 mile backup in NYC Sunday night moving along between stop and go up to maybe 15mph. (over an hour of creeping along). Outside temp around 35 degrees. The needle was above the idiot light and once or twice the fan went on. Van never came close to overheating. Air flow I'm sure was probably minimal in front of the van. Once through the backup, and up to a steady 40+ mph the needle went below the idiot light. Rest of trip van ran cool.
>
>Warmed up the van for 15 minutes yesterday morning and needle never went above the idiot light. Running around town for an hour or so yesterday, van ran cool as usual.
>
>What goes? Is this normal?
>
>My guess is that the cooling syatem is a bit under-designed for traffic jams.
>
>thanks
>
>Greg
>
>
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