Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:32:21 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: "Fireing up" my van Re: Aircooled Vanagons
In-Reply-To: <019601c70922$137262b0$2f01a8c0@FirstLaptop>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
In Alaska, in the world of the bush pilot, 50 weight oil at 35 below
zero gets pretty stiff. I have done chin-ups on propellers becasue the
engine was so tight from the cold oil. No way is an engine like that
going to start without some preheat. We always carried a small catalytic
heater to put in the engine cowl over night to keep the oil and the
engine warm. The little cat heater should work for the air cooled
Vanagons, and maybe even for the water cooled models.
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Zoltan wrote:
> Once, I could not start the van in a very cold weather, the oil was too
> thick. So, I went out and bought some barbeque coal and lighter fluid
> and
> cut an gallon oil can on the side, put the coal in and fired it up,
> waited
> until it burned down to amber then pushed it under the van's engine and
> waited for fifteen minutes. It started up the first try.
> I learned it in Hungary, when I seen a tractor being heated up from under
> the same way.
> I know, some faint hearted would have called the police. That's what
> faint
> hearted do.
> Zoltan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "neil" <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:18 PM
> Subject: Re: Aircooled Vanagons
>
>
>> Though I was thinking an external oil cooler would be
>> best suited for hotter climes, yes of course I agree.
>> It's a good point. Using it when it's cold out, would
>> really never let the oil come up to temp. Or at least
>> not let it come up to temp quickly enough.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- ------------- <VW4X4@verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> "external cooler can't hurt"
>>>
>>> This really isn't true. Oill
>>> doen't lubricate until
>>> approx. 150 Deg. This is why you should never
>>> beat a
>>> cool engine. Running a oil cooler in 0 deg weather,
>>> in
>>> not good.
>>> Joe
>>>
>>> neil wrote:
>>>
>>> >I recently installed a head temp sensor on my 81
>>> AC.
>>> >It read 350-475(475 on hills) on a recent trip in
>>> mild
>>> >weather. I've replaced the engine seal, and have
>>> >brought rest of engine up to snuff (as best I can
>>> w/o
>>> >dealing with internals). It runs well and I'm
>>> >confident that this engine won't overheat. But.....
>>> >
>>> >An external cooler can't hurt, especially in hotter
>>> >climes. Since this van was made for travel, and is
>>> >heavier (Westy) it might make sense to install a
>>> >cooler. Regardless these engines work fine stock IF
>>> >properly maintained. i.e. I didn't realize just how
>>> >important the engine seal was (thanks list) to
>>> keeping
>>> >the engine within safe temps.
>>> >
>>> >For now the expense of adding a cooler isn't
>>> >warranted. Who knows, if I travel to much hotter
>>> >climes, I may install a cooler. But if it doesn't
>>> over
>>> >heat, then no need IMHO. Besides I may just end up
>>> >being the neighborhood nutter who puts in an AZZ-TD
>>> or
>>> >Subie in his AC van.
>>> >
>>> >(need a dang-diddly-o-dry garage first. These
>>> >carport-capers just aren't cutting it with this
>>> >sideways rain! And am I nuts to be thinking of
>>> selling
>>> >and moving to a place with a proper 2 car
>>> garage/shop
>>> >just because I own and work on a Vanagon????)
>>> >
>>> >Cheers but not nuts,
>>> >
>>> >Neil.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >--- Conrad Klahn <conradk@MAC.COM> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >>Hi,
>>> >>
>>> >>I have an aircooled Vanagon in need of a rebuild.
>>> >>I'm sure I have
>>> >>been hell on this thing per Bob's comments - but
>>> it
>>> >>has never broken
>>> >>down on me. All I want is to go 55 up a 30 degree
>>> >>grade, which I know
>>> >>would require a miracle and a 55 MPH tail wind.
>>> >>
>>> >>I was recently discouraged from Jake Raby's rant
>>> on
>>> >>Aircooled
>>> >>Vanagons. So I know that there are people with all
>>> >>sorts of opinions,
>>> >>even from those that know more than me. However, I
>>> >>do think an
>>> >>additional oil cooler and ceramic coating offset
>>> >>many of the pitfalls
>>> >>of this design.
>>> >>
>>> >>Conrad
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >__________________________________________________
>>> >Do You Yahoo!?
>>> >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
>>> protection around
>>> >http://mail.yahoo.com
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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