Neil, it sounds as though you're in too high a gear and lugging your motor. Third gear at 25 MPH is too slow and will build a lot of heat in the motor. In my 1.9 if I can't maintain 45 MPH in third I do 25 MPH in second. Try second gear at 25 MPH (40 KPH) instead. The motor is in a stronger place and by turning faster will pump more cooling air past the cylinders. There's no hurry anyway, right? :) Seeya, Jake On 8/28/07, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi all. > > Am in Republic WA right now. > > Through *really* steep Colville forest hills, head temps stay at 475 F at > 40-45 km's in 3rd gear. Oil level is fine and oil consumption much less > than > half a litre in over 1700 km's. > > I was reading gauge incorrectly. (D-oh!) What I thought was 400 F on steep > hills, was actually 450 F. On level road, my Westy used to stay at 350, > but > is sometimes higher now. Sometimes 400 F or over. (may be windy conditions > forcing engine to work harder) > > I replaced VDO temp sensor after damaging first one when re- installing > spark plug on #3 cylinder. I used old temp sensor ring as washer to help > plug turn on washer and not twist sensor while turning plug. Reason > original > ruined. Head temps were high, so removed "washer" thinking plug sitting > too > "high". New sensor wire got a little chewed again so may not be sending > correctly. > > Question: > > IF sensor sending correctly, is 475 F on *steep* hills, too high? > > Any other way to judge if engine too hot? (feeling dipstick etc.) > > Engine runs fine otherwise. > > Many thanks, > > Neil. > > -- > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - > "Jaco" (Bustorius) > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links! > http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home >
-- Jake 1984 Vanagon GL 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" www.crescentbeachguitar.com |
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