Date:         Mon, 5 Sep 2011 15:57:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Hot oil -- good idea to change, I reckon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

So just got back from a Labor Day camping trip down in California. Mrs
Squirrel's sons and families talked us into driving ten (ten!) hours to
East Park Reservoir, south of Redding, ahead of time to grab space for
everyone to camp.

It was hot. 100 (F) +

Mellow Yellow did fine, even hauling the trailer full of extra decoy
camping gear (spare popup tents and screen houses and other structures
to pepper the space with and add that look of "occupancy," firewood,
coolers full of food, etc). There was, however, a steep grade for
several miles. I don't know how steep it was, higher than 7 degrees
which is where the bubble level I have on my driver's door maxes out.
"Haut category," I reckon it would be called in the professional bicycle
tours circuit.

A two-lane road, we climbed and we climbed. The oil temp gauge hit 235,
easily. Hottest I've ever seen it. I was in first gear (auto trans) and
kept the rpms to 3100. And the road continued to climb. No places to
pull out and let folk behind us pass. Just up and up and hotter and hotter.

I am of the opinion that I would do well to do an oil change.

One question (this is a FAQ if I ever saw one): how much oil to put in?

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.

Sent from my kitchen.