Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 10:23:19 -0800
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: New thermostat funky?
In-Reply-To: <47519AEA.8090805@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
The new thermostat obviously has a lower opening temperature than your
original or it wouldn't have moved where the needle rides on your existing
gauge. That may or may not be a good thing.
I'm wondering how the engine could possibly make any heat on a long
downhill on overrun if the fuel cut-off switch has taken the gas out of the
combustion chambers. I mean, its damn cold outside and you're pumping that
air through the engine and there's no combustion. Ergo, you're freezing
your ass off. :)
Maybe you'll need to idle your way down those long grades to keep the
water temperature up.
How was your gas mileage? We're all on tenterhooks..........
On Dec 1, 2007 9:33 AM, Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
> A couple months ago I replaced the water pump -- it was making an ominous
> grinding noise. Felt crappy when it was removed, too. Installed a new Temp
> II sensor and thermostat at the same time. The thermostat came from one of
> the usual online presences, can't recall exactly who but could find out if
> it's relevant. The packing list noted that it was one that was set for 10
> degree cooler than stock.
>
> Indeed, with normal city driving at outside temps in the 70F range, the
> temp gauge seems to rest just at the left edge of the LED whereas
> previously it rode straight up, bisecting the lamp.
>
> This morning I just returned from a two-night camping trip in the San
> Diego mountains. It was 35F this morning and the first 2/3rds of the drive
> are mostly downhill, a 6,000 ft elevation drop in about 60 miles. For most
> of the downhill portion, the temp needle sat between the painted "box" at
> the left-hand side of the meter face (this is a 1984 1.9L) and the left
> edge of the LED, mostly closer to that painted box than the LED. In other
> words, at about halfway between left (dead cold) and straight up.
>
> The engine was so cool that the ECU went open-loop during long downhills
> (auto transmission in "2," holding road speed down), as determined by the
> Ken Lewis O2 monitor.
>
> Once I got to the flats, in 55F temp, freeway speeds of 70 mph or so, the
> needle rarely kissed the left edge of the LED.
>
> This is new behavior, I'm not used to seeing the engine run that cool. I
> know that a thermostat with a cooler set point may make it run cooler when
> it's not being worked hard, but it should keep the engine warm. I can't
> recall seeing the coolant that cold during downhills. That said, this was
> the coldest weather I've made that run in. But still.
>
> Next month I'll make the same trip, and it could be 20F cooler. I want to
> be certain that the thermostat isn't, like, stuck open or anything.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/
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