Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:06:35 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Not overheating, but maybe not "right"...opinions sought...
In-Reply-To: <2008fb6d0608261631i4e90f81r25922af53597105@mail.gmail.com>
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If the engine is over cooling on the highway, you problem is a lazy or
defective thermostat. I would go with that first. If you can over cool in
hot weather, most likely the radiator is OK.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Bohannan
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 7:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Not overheating, but maybe not "right"...opinions sought...
To those that would like to share their opinion....
I am planning on changing out my radiator and some coolant hoses in the near
future because I want to head off any potential problems in the future...
The question I have is, however, about running temps as recorded on the
gauge...in other words, should my current running conditions necessitate
escalating priority of this project...
When cruising on the highway, the needle comes into the BOTTOM (read cool
side) of the gauge at 90 degree heat running at about 60-70 mph with AC on.
When cruising round town, slower speeds the needle sometimes crawls above
the led (read hot side). Again, this is with AC blowing full blast. After
this condition, round town, moving (after it has gone up into the higher end
of the led) the lowest it will cycle down to is about mid led and then go up
and down around there...
High speed fan hasn't come on in a long while I think due to lack of sitting
in traffic...I haven't seen the needle get that high recently. What on earth
is that high speed fan for? AC on, idling in traffic? Does this all sound
normal? Or should it not get into those higher ranges with the AC on -
meaning that the low speed fan is running continuous...
The second thing that has me wondering about the condition of the innards of
the radiator is some brown corrosion-like stuff floating to the top of the
coolant bottle under the hatch...The coolant looks great (heads done 1.5 yrs
ago) but I am starting to see what looks like some grumpies from the inside
of the radiator.
When I change the radiator out I plan on changing those 20 yr old rubber
hoses...and I hope I don't have to replace the plastic cooling lines, but I
can't imagine how much crud they have in them from settling over the
years....
Thanks for any advice. Wish I knew if PO ever changed out the radiator
(prolly not)....
Dave
85 GL "Baby Bus"
85 "Goldy"
--
Dave - KC9FYM
http://fjazzbass.blogspot.com