Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:53:21 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Not overheating, but maybe not "right"...opinions sought...
In-Reply-To: <2008fb6d0608261631i4e90f81r25922af53597105@mail.gmail.com>
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My 83 diesel behaves like that when it really hot, like 98 and above.
If it ever gets above the LED, and it doesn't get far, maybe half a
needle's width, it has a hard time coming down whether on a freeway
or idling or anything in between.
It doesn't have AC so I can't tell you about operation of the fan
with it, but I can tell you that the heating got me concerned enough
to put in a new sender. After that, in REALLY hot weather, I have
heard it come on twice or so since replacing it a month ago.
I doubt that the diesel ever had a radiator replacement.
My 90, however, did have a radiator replacement at about 40K miles.
It never goes above the LED, and the low fan speed is always on if
the AC is on. If it gets in the high 90s and I'm stuck in traffic
with the AC going, that high fan will come on for 30 seconds or so,
don't remember longer.
So, 1. it has to get REALLY hot before the high speed fan comes on,
as in nearly or at 100, and I've never heard it on the diesel at all
and 2. my anecdotal evidence is that even with great care, the newer
radiator tends to overheat less.
And be advised that vanagon temp meters are not exactly laboratory
quality.
Jim
On Aug 26, 2006, at 6:31 PM, David Bohannan wrote:
> 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
>
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