Date:         Wed, 7 Feb 2007 10:47:35 -0500
Reply-To:     Ben <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: Need input on radiator problem
Comments: To: Oxroad@aol.com
In-Reply-To:  <c58.d049eae.32fad190@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Jeff, thanks! very good imput, and good joke, you had me at the
beginning :-))

This sound  lot like her problem, the rad she as is the original, i'm
pretty sure!

I still blame that rad, but the problem is that it's impossible to find
one where she is!

And i also think it's the first step, changing the rad.

Ben

Oxroad@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 2/6/2007 6:03:56 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA writes:
>
>     >>The engine/coolant don't overheat at low speed, only on big
>     hills wile
>     >>climbing, the engine sound and run fine all the time with good
>     power, even
>     >>when it's over-heating???
>
> Ben--
>
> Here was the problem on my 1.9L. It ran in the correct coolant range
> on the highway. Ran in the coolant range fine at low speeds on local
> streets. I ran several of 6,000 mile trips each summer for 4 or 5 years.
>
> Thanks for your time.
>
> OK, kidding, there was a problem.
>
> Here was the problem. In situations when I came off the highway and
> was immediately stopped at a stop light or two the coolant temp would
> rise dramatically. The fan would come on the high speed.  It would
> never overheat and the coolant temp gauge would not get in the danger
> area. But again. noticaby getting hot quick.
>
> To counter act this I would turn on the front interior heater.
>
> Also on long hill climbs the coolant temp would rise. On real steep
> climbs like up through the Kyber Pass, I mean, what's that route over
> the Continental Divide near Denver?? Anyway there I'd have to turn on
> the rear heater and the front heater and saved myself from
> overheating. But it ran hot and was precarious. and even on other
> substantial but not as steep climbs I would often have to turn on both
> heaters to keep the temp gauge where it looked safe.
>
> Once, on my 4th 6,000 mile trip it overheated on the climb over the
> Continental Divide heading from Vail to Denver. I think this is the
> steeper of the two east vs. west.
>
> This coolant temp rising got very slowly and subtly worse, and never
> all that bad except for the one overheating. That was in 2001.
>
> But again, fine on the highway, fine on local streets, gauge would
> rise after being on the highway and stopping at a stop light. All this
> up to the very end before I solved the problem.
>
> SO, at that time (2001) I put in a new South African genuine VW
> aluminum radiator from Camelback VW in AZ . In those days even with a
> list discount I think the radiator went for about $400. The good news
> is these days they are a lot cheaper.
>
> My old radiator was the original radiator. It was copper. The interior
> was full of what I would say was lime or calcium or whatever clogs
> them up when I did the autopsy on it. And when I say clogged, it was
> coated with the deposits. it was not completely clogged so there would
> have been a stoppage. Just a nice coat of deposits throughout the
> radiator probably serving as a great insulator to keep the coolant hot.
>
> I haven't had a problem since the new radiator with coolant temp
> either city ot highway or hills or mountains.
>
> Best,
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>
>
>
>
>
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