Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 21:29:17 -0500
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject: Re: Head temp > 230F + Is this critically bad?
In-Reply-To: <CAKA=wSZno4B+VaBAc4YMdOwEh_7NcDxRAtGcQ9eEmGWNzyMQyQ@mail.gmail.com>
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On 6/4/2013 9:03 PM, Pete O wrote:
> Hi, Skip!
>
> There are far more experienced opinions on this list than mine.
>
> That being said, I would seriously question the accuracy of those
> strips. Most bus pilots don't even trust the VDO analog gauges I've done a
> lot of reading on this subject and have never heard of temp strips. The
> Dakota Digital is supposed to be the most accurate and that has to be
> installed at the #3 cylinder spark plug point.
>
>
> Pete
> '87 Westy 'JoesVan'
> '79 Westy 'Aardvark'
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 9:54 PM, Skip <skiplaubach@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi there.
>>
>> I recently added temperature strips to my heads, drove to and from work
>> (50 miles), then checked the strips.
>>
>> Passenger side had not reached 210F+, but the driver's side reached >
>> 230F. Quite a difference. Is 230F + too high? Should I take action/stop
>> driving?
>>
>> The engine is an '84 1.9L WBXR case with the 2.2L GoWesty upgrade kit with
>> about 8,000 miles/1 year on the newly rebuilt engine, manual transmission.
>> This is the first time that I've used the temp strips.
>>
>> I run 20W-50 Valvoline, but recently changed to Mobile 1 15W-50 Synthetic
>> (and I like it!). The temp strips hit the above temps while running with
>> the Valvoline.
>>
>> I posted on the samba, but have had no feedback.
>>
>> Thanks for your experience, wisdom, and opinions.
>>
>> I'll try to link to some photos.
>>
>> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1069167.jpg Driver's side
>>
>> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1069168.jpg Passenger's side
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Skip
>>
If I were really concerned about it, I would mount an old school VDO air
cooled cylinder head temp guage and sender on the exhaust stud manifold
bolt/nut. Buy three extra sending units if you want feedback jn all 4
cylinders. This will give you much more instantaneous information as to
head temp changes. I only needed one senderon the #3 stud on my old 79
Loaf, but I could certainly tell when I was climbing a long grade and
when I was off the throttle going down!! It would hit 450 F t the top
of the hill and drop 100 degrees o nthe way down. The water cooleds
prolly don't change that drastically, but kep in mind you're not using a
$1000 pyrometer to do the measuring. Use the numbers as a "Point A,
point B and Point C" and compare everyday running temps with high and
low load readings. If things get too warm or too cool, THEN some
detective work is in order. I don't have head temp senders on my water
boxer and prolly won't unless I win the lottery. YMMV
DM&FS
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