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Date:         Wed, 3 Jul 1996 00:17:13 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Remuse@aol.com
Subject:      Re: JCW oil cooler

In a message dated 96-07-02 22:03:14 EDT, you write:

> Ok Weston, it's interesting to learn about the oil leak, but it would >be even more interesting to learn about the "wonders" it worked. While >the experience is still fresh in your mind, how about describing the >differences in temperature you observed in what running conditions. Also >please mention what temperature gauge(s) you have and the physical >characteristics of the radiator. > > Be happy to. Recall that this is an 81 Westy with an auto and just rebuilt top end.

My usual conditions are about 210* or so when just tooling around in the 35 to 45mph range. I have a 25 mile course around the Atlanta highways that I run this thing on when I'm checking temps. At the end of a hot day and at 55 to 60 mph I can expect the oil temps to quickly average 230 to 240* and then 250* if I coast after reaching those temps. Standing after coming off the highway is hopeless; it won't budge off 250*. I've got VDO oil pressure and temp gauges with the temp sensor located in the sump at the lower corner of the motor. supposedly that's a cool spot. I've been using single wt 40 oil recently. At temps of roughly 230*, the pressure drops below 10 and sets off the idiot light. Thats a constant at idle; no problem at temps under that. Generally at highway speeds the pressure is about 30.

The cooler was a 48 plate model from JCW with dimensions of 11x5 3/4x1 1/2. It fit in the left corner behind the taillightand cocked at an angle. Air flow probably was around it more than through it. Twin hoses ran through holes cut in the tin to a sanwich adapter at the oil filter. I tried this last friday evening over my usual course. My impression around town was that it did a much better job of holding the temps in the 190 to 200 range. Once on the highway, I was able to do 60 or better and hold it to the 210 to 220 area. What seemed to be really different was the ability to push it harder and see the temp climb only to fall again once I lightened up a bit. My feeling all along has been that heat seems to have a cumulative buildup that just overwhelms the cooling ability. I was happy as a clam with the cooler add-on until I exited and had to idle for a protracted period. Once again the temps climbed up into the 240 range after that high speed run. I resolved not to sit in traffic anymore.

Now, today I spent an hour on the phone with Fred at Dee Engineering(Bugpack?) and we crafted a replacement. Among other things, Fred has apparently stuffed some corvair motors into buses for 100+mph fun. Essentially we are going to use the same cooler in a larger version, 72 plate, and remote the filter into the the engine compartment. That somehow addresses his concern that the sandwich adapter tends to drape the oil lines over the heater box. Interestingly, they spec smaller brass bayonet fittings than JCW provided in their install kit which I think was the root of the leak probem. When initially ordering from JCW, I talked at length to their "tech" department about the discrepancy in the indicated sizes and the respnse basically was that they wouldn't sell the kit if it weren't correct. Now I've got to go back to Nopi locally and try to translate the order to them; Dee doesn't deal with people, only dealers.

Hope this fills in the gaps. Comments are welcome.

BTW, why in the world can't people in Oregon pump their own gas?

Weston


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