Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004 20:08:55 -0500
Reply-To: Jeff Palmer <icecoldvw@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Palmer <icecoldvw@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: safe RPM
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I have 275k km on my original 1.9l motor in my 85 Westfalia. I've replaced
a set of heads once now since i've owned it (11 years now) but so far the
motor is putting along. It seems to love to cruise at 4000 rpm on the nose,
no slower and no faster. I'm enjoying the discussion so far, and the oil
temp issue is interesting. But I also have a really light foot when getting
to 4000.
Of course, my motor is going to explode now tomorrow.
Jeff
85 Westfalia GL, Winnipeg (Happy northern Thanksgiving!)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam Walters" <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: safe RPM
> In the past a number of people who have oil temp gauges, and/or oil
> pressure gauges, and tachometers have noted that right at 4,000 rpm
> steady state driving, the oil temperature seems to significantly
> increase. When the oil temperature gets beyond a certain point, about
> 250 degrees, IIRC, the pressure is less and the protection of the engine
> is therefore decreased. Oil temperature is reported to be noticeably
> lower at 3,600-3,800 rpm steady state driving. This discussion has been
> on both this list and on the Syncro list - perhaps more there than here.
>
> As Bob Donalds noted, this does not refer the rpm's when you are
> accelerating from a stop or in changes in stop and go driving, but
> steady road driving.
>
> Based on this many have recommended that you run your van at slightly
> below 4,000 on the highway or any other steady state operation. While I
> used to drive my 84 over 70 consistently and thus well past 4,000 rpm
> before learning about these concerns on the lists, I now rarely drive
> beyond 3,800 rpm and then only for short distances, like passing, etc.
> I also know that I am saving on gas mileage at the lower speeds.
>
> However, I often go up to 4,500 or more when accelerating through
traffic.
>
> Sam
>
> --
> Sam Walters
> Baltimore, MD
>
> 89 Syncro GL
> 85 Westy Weekender
> 84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems
>
> All incoming and outgoing email scanned by
> automatically updated copy of Norton AntiVirus.
>
>
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