Date:         Sun, 14 May 1995 09:06:31 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         David Schwarze <schwarze@superc.nosc.mil>
Subject:      Re: Add-on Oil Coolers

Christopher Bridge writes:
> 
> Another Chris writes:
>
> >I have found that an external cooler won't help overheating, just delay
> >reaching overheated, by virtue of there being more oil to heat.
> >I have also found that an oilcooler on a new strong well running engine is a
> >waist, takes motor longer to warm up, leaks. hoses in the way.
> >Most of the stuff in the mags are there because they sell, they don't give a
> >ship about your engine.
> 
> I couldn't agree more.  I especially like what the author of the "high 
> performance" section of Muirs book says on the subject.  He says something 
> like: " build it right the first time, and you will not have to cover up 
> your mistakes with coolers and .....".      

Well that all sounds good, but how come my engine overheats all the time?
I rebuilt it with all new parts, took my time, put in a Melling oil pump,
and it will overheat if I go up a steep grade, or just try to maintain 65
on a long strech of highway in warm weather.  I don't know what else to do,
except assume that the engine cooling system was "underengineered".  Also,
my camper is several hundred pounds heavier (and 24" taller) than those VW
engineers designed the motor to handle.  For now, I have to keep a close
watch on the pressure and temp and back off when it starts to run hot, but
I am determined to put in an external cooler eventually in hopes of solving
the problem.  I hear there's a puke-eggnog parts van up in the Bay area
somewhere, anyone know where to find it?  =)

-David

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David Schwarze                     '73 VW Safare Custom Camper  (Da Boat)
SAIC Comsystems, San Diego Calif.  '73 Capri GT 2800            (Da Beast)
e-mail:  schwarze@nosc.mil         '87 Mustang Lx 5.0           (Da Sleeper)
http://papaya.nosc.mil/~schwarze   '93 Weber WG-50              (Da Piano)
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