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Date:         Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:54:09 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Oil temp musings and hairbrained ideas
Comments: To: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <5ebe10a0811190600j7c885097kc8adb3021d0d0fdd@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

The synthetic oil runs cooler because of its surface tension and flow characteristics. Less friction and it absorbs less horse power. Also, you may have altered the oil level a bit and that can make a huge difference. Never fill a water boxer to the max line.

The VDO dual pole sensor works fine if installed on the low pressure lead if the engine is healthy. 254k miles on fun bus. I really never want to see less than 6-7 psi.

Diverting air to cool an oil pan does nothing. If you cool the oil there at all, it will only skin and wont cool the oil actually flowing. This is why tube and fin oil coolers do not work that well. Flat plate coolers are much better.

Best place for air flow is in front of the radiator and a 16 plate cooler is the minimum. Then you will need a thermostat. As you have seen water temp has little effect on oil temp except to set a minimum. Speed, load, level time are the driving factors. Over 4,000 rpm under load starts the climb.

The oil to water oil cooler works well until you hit that rpm limit. The problem is that it is fed with hot water.

I have done many installations using a 16 or 19 plate cooler in front of the radiator. Aeroquip makes a "Socketless" hose that works well and is easy to install. I usually use a perm-cool 4 port thermostat just in front the #3 exhaust header. I use a sandwich adapter to replace the stock cooler. 1/2" refrigeration tubing from the adapter to the t-stat. 2 feet hose from the t-stat to 5/8 refrigeration copper going to the front near the shifter, and then hose again from there to the cooler element.

Rarely will the oil go over 210F and if it does, it will quickly go down after the load (hill climb) or speed is reduced.

FUN BUS will still over 40 psi on the highway with 254k on the engine.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Chris S Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:01 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Oil temp musings and hairbrained ideas

I've installed an oil temp and oil pressure gauge in my Westy just to monitor the health and life of the 2.1l Wunderboxer. I've had some interesting observations since then.

1. When driving at 75mph oil temp climbs quite impressively. 2. I replaced the thermostat. My coolant temp is stabilized but my oil temp stayed same about the same until... 3. I drained Castrol 20W50 and put in Mobil 1 15W50 synthetic. The oil temp is down about 20c (that's Centigrade) while cruising at 70 mph during my extended testing. Did the cooling system burp an air bubble in the oil heat exchanger or is the synthetic oil absorbing less heat? The daytime temp was about the same. 4. Despite what I previously believed, I now think our Westies do need an oil cooler of some sort for extended highway running. 5. VDO dual-pole senders are NOT compatible with low pressure alarm on our Vanagons. The low pressure alarm goes off at a higher pressure. Install a T-connector and hook up a factory .3 bar low pressure sensor.

HAIRBRAINED IDEA #1: Has anyone installed a scoop under the oil pan of the WBX to catch air and increase cooling of oil inside? Something like Terry Kay's famous auto transmission scoop idea? (pic: http://community-2.webtv.net/VanStuff/VanagonWestfalia/media/captureD35.jpg)

HAIRBRAINED IDEA #2: A bigger oil cooler for the WBX? http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=78993

-- Chris S. Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"

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