Date:         Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:53:38 +0000
Reply-To:     Bill Shawley <easywind1975@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Shawley <easywind1975@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Sitting in traffic question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Suppose you are faced with sitting in a long line of traffic where the column of vehicles maybe moves every few minutes or so.  From a cooling standpoint is it better to turn the vehicle off in between or does the residual heat need the engine running to cool things off.  Here's the context.
 
2 years ago I overheated driving into a music festival, found out later that the big rad fan resistor was bad (86 w/ AC)
 
1 year ago same festival, very nervous but no overheating or warning light, I did see the temp gauge rise above normal and I would rev the idle occasionally.
 
This year things seem cool mechanically but the memory of overheating and being heckled by a WV local still stings, plus there'll be a rugrat in tow.
 
So should I 
1) cut the van off after moving a few feet (and save some gas/polar bears)
2) cut the van off afer moving a few feet and waiting a minute or so
3) leave the van run and raise the idle a little to get that h20 pump humming
4) cool out and crack a cold one while waiting for traffic to move
 
Oh yeah I noticed that the fan didn't come on when I turned the AC on the other day (I don't use it much), I plan to check the ballast resistor and if that's ok get the van up to temp and let it idle for awhile to see if I can get both fan speeds to kick in.
 
I'm I rambling and being too paranoid?
 
Ryan
 
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