Date:         Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:11:57 -0500
Reply-To:     neil <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Aircooled Vanagons
Comments: To: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <89612337-A0C8-4F2B-B7E0-7D0ACA1F4BAC@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Now I remember why I chose a head temp gaug over oil
temp.

Neil.


--- Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA> wrote:

> Hi Raymond,
>
> The Type1 (1955 to 1972)  and type4 (1972-1983.5)
> engines have very
> different  oil and head temp characteristics. The
> type1 heats up its
> oil a LOT faster than a type4 will. OTOH, a type4
> engine will heat up
> the heads a lot quicker than a type1. Since the
> vanagon has a type4
> motor, the head temp gauge is the preferred method
> to maintain
> longevity.
>
> Ask Ben Huot about the value of the CHT gauge... his
> bus sucked a
> shopping bag into the engine compartment of his 1973
> westy and it
> wound up blocking his fresh air intake. When he
> noticed it the engine
> was already above 500 degrees. If Ben had been
> relying on an oil temp
> gauge it would have been way too late to save the
> engine.
>
> I added CHT, Oil pressure, and voltmeter gauges to
> my aircooled a few
> years ago. All of them have proved invaluable on
> trips.  I also have
> an oil temp gauge and sender, but haven't found a
> good place to
> install the gauge. Some day, when I get a round
> tuit.
>
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> 1973/74/75/77/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
> www.busesofthecorn.com
>
>
>
>
> On 15-Nov-06, at 5:42 PM, Raymond Paquette wrote:
>
> > I've had both head and oil temp guages on earlier
> ('66 and '71)
> > busses, and
> > don't think the head temp was very useful.  Once
> warmed up, it only
> > climbed
> > above 350 if I did things I shouldn't, like push
> up a hill that was
> > really
> > too steep for the gear I was in.  While you can
> cook your heads pretty
> > quickly, it should really only happen if you're
> messing up.
> > Interestingly,
> > it did give me info on tuning, like it would
> settle around 335 when
> > I had my
> > points and timing set right, good spark plug
> wires, good gas.  If
> > it hovered
> > higher (without obvious cause) I knew I had some
> maintenance to
> > do.  Outside
> > air temp made little difference, aside form how
> long it took to get
> > warmed
> > up.
> >
> > Oil temp can climb without you realizing it
> though.
> >
> > I've had external coolers as well.  Best one had
> an electric fan
> > that turned
> > on  around 170 degrees.  You can also get an oil
> thermostat to keep
> > from
> > overcooling.  It bypasses the cooler until you get
> up to temp.
> >
> > If I had to choose one thing to keep me safe, I'd
> go with the oil temp
> > guage.  You can always slow down and/or downshift
> to keep them temp
> > down.
> > My guage saved my ass several times when the oil
> bypass plunger
> > stuck down
> > (bypassing the stock oil cooler).  Without it, I
> wouldn't have
> > known until
> > something really bad happened.
> >
> > My $.02
> >
> > Raymond
> >
> >
> > On 11/15/06, neil <goofymuso@yahoo.ca> 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
>


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