Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2023 14:55:21 -0700
Reply-To: Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 87 Westfalia - Running hot?
In-Reply-To: <MW4PR02MB74095845D77B40EEE083C85BCFCBA@MW4PR02MB7409.namprd02.prod.outlook.com>
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Hi Mike,
My first thought is that you likely have air in your cooling system which
is preventing the coolant from getting to the radiator to effectively cool
when you are going uphill. The steeper the grade the more the air will
impact the effectiveness. When you are on flats the coolant level can
overcome the air and get to the radiator. Try bleeding the air out and add
some coolant.
That is the first thing I would do.
Bruce
On Wed, Oct 4, 2023 at 1:54 PM Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@hotmail.com> wrote:
> My ’87 Westfalia has about 50,000 miles on a Boston Bob rebuilt 2.1 liter
> waterboxer. The temperature gauge runs somewhat above the LED. Over the
> years we have replaced the sender and the thermostat, and eventually the
> radiator and radiator pipes a couple of years ago. (I’m leaving a lot
> out!). The new radiator brought the needle down, but it still runs a bit
> over the LED.
> Coming back from the WetWesties campout in Oregon, I spent some time going
> up steep forest service roads in 1st gear in mid-70s temperatures. The
> needle went up close to the white line at the top, and the red light
> started flashing. I pulled over and checked the overflow tank behind the
> radiator. It had a reasonable amount of coolant in it, but I added some
> water while waiting for the engine to cool down. The radiator fan kept
> running for a few minutes while I waited, so it’s not dead. Oil level was
> normal.
> Later in the day after a couple hundred miles of highway driving where the
> temp needle stayed as normal, above the LED, I drove north out of Lewiston
> Idaho up several miles of a significant grade, third gear about 50 mph.
> The needle got up close to the top, the red light started flashing, but the
> needle didn’t get all the way to the white line. Once I leveled out, it
> dropped and the red light stopped.
> When I got home and unloaded, I checked the coolant tank in the engine bay
> and found it full. The overflow tank was at a normal level, oil OK.
> Removing the belt, I found the water pump turned smoothly with no sign of
> leakage.
> So - I wonder, after the thermostat, sending unit and radiator, is my
> gauge reading hotter than it should or is there a real problem? Should I
> put in a real temperature gauge to see what’s happening or is there
> something else to check?
>
> Mike Finkbiner
> Moscow, ID
> mike_l_f@hotmail.com
>
> The chief goal of living is not merely to stay alive.
> - Mike Rowe
>
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