Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 00:54:24 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hot oil -- good idea to change, I reckon
In-Reply-To: <4E6553E6.8060408@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Since you have an oil cooler you may have to play with the level a bit
depending on how much drains out of the cooler system. Normal fill for me
with filter is 4.5 quarts.
As for your oil temperature 235 is not only no big deal but normal under
those climbing conditions. At least your added cooler is doing something.
The bubble level only gives a reasonable reading while the vehicle is
stationary.
Have the oil tested if you really want to know its condition.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 6:58 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Hot oil -- good idea to change, I reckon
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.
