Date:         Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:36:11 -0600
Reply-To:     john silverman <jsilver@MAIL.AROS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         john silverman <jsilver@MAIL.AROS.NET>
Subject:      AC and engine temps
Comments: To: VANAGON@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

O COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF THE LIST...

Last week, driving across the hot deserts of Utah and Colorado (Salt Lake
City to Crested Butte, through ambient air temps in the 100-110 range), we
used Vic's (our '90 Syncro Westfalia) AC.  It worked great -on high the two
of us in the front were plenty comfortable.  However, the temperature needle
on the dash kept climbing.  At cruising speeds of 70-75, the needle was just
to the "hot" side of the led, and with strain such as hills or acceleration,
it would climb to about 2/3-3/4 the way to the top of the gauge.  The fan
would come on appropriately (However, there seems to be only 1 fan speed),
and no lights on the dash would light up.  Going down the hills, the needle
would tend to drop somewhat down the gauge.  There was no evidence of
coolant loss at all.  (By the way, RPMs were mostly below 3800)

This brings up several questions:  How high on the gauge is too hot?  Is it
possible that there is a cooling system problem? (the H20 pump was replaced
about 500 miles ago!!)  Is it dangerous to the engine to run it that hot?

Any info appreciated, Thanks...
John Silverman