Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 14:32:40 EDT
Reply-To: GMBulley@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: GMBulley@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: AC and engine temps
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, john silverman, a common listee, like you and me, wrote:
<< 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,
>
> 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?
Prompting our fearless and thorough list administrator, Chris Smith
(csmith@SDSC.EDU) to write a message dated 7/24/98 12:19:47 PM Eastern
Daylight Time:
I'm very intersted in seeing what the list has to say on this matter,
because I'm VERY conservative when it comes to my VW's (air and
water-cooled). Maybe too conversative, then again I've not had any
problems with my vehicles related to "taxing" them.
Although I could/can drive (cruise) at 70-85 mph in my vehicles I never do
(typical cruising speed for me is a modest 60-65), and definitely not
when the ambient air is 100+ AND with the AC running. For me, this spells
trouble right around the corner, no matter how much maintenance and
rebuilding done on the vehicle.
Comments from the list >>
Prompting me, GMBulley, the Communications Consultant, and resident smart-a**,
to write:
Well, although I am usually the "conservative" one on various Vanagon
Subjects, not in this case. In fact, I am the anti-Chris, in this case. :)
While meticulous in my maintenance, I drive my cars and vans as if I carry a
grudge against them. In fact, the REASON I am meticulous in my maintenance, is
that I hate to "baby" anything. I beleive people and appliances (like our
VW's) should be ready at all times to perform at their full potential. I'd
hate to have a van that couldn't hang with anything I throw at it. We spent a
small fortune on Suzanne's (my tall, lovely, and talented wife) bus to make it
rock solid. That included an auxilary oil cooler, a 150% capacity oil pump to
deal with the heat/overloading punishment I expect my vehicles to take.
I drive only slightly above the speed limit, but I usually accelerate like a
fireman, with the throttle to the floor through first, second, and third, at
least. The AC stays on CONSTANTLY in the summer, regardless of outside
temperature, or number of fat-bodies/amount of firewood in the vehicle. I like
to see condensation forming on the outside of the windows, the true signal the
AC is WORKING, baby! :)
The owners manual speaks very clearly about the temperature gauge: It is
perfectly NORMAL for the gauge to go up high in the temperature range, as long
as the light does not come on, or the needle is not outside the normal range
(clearly marked, for your visual convenience). An ounce of common sence is
warranted. If it is 32 F degrees outside, and the gauge in-explicably climbs
to the top of the scale, better check it out. If you are driving through the
desert with the AC on and a load of fat-bodies in the van, going over
mountains, uphill, both ways, going 70 mph, the van is going to get warm.
I don't have the engineering background that some of you folks do, but I'd be
willing to bet that one of you auto-engineer whiz kids can de-bunk us on
this...From my line of thinking, the cooling system in a vehicle is not
difficult to over-engineer, that is design extra capacity to deal with the
most extreme situations. Increase cooling area on the radiator, increase the
flow through the radiator (Anyone who has seen/felt the fan on their vanagon
on HIGH can tell you, that vehicle can shed heat in a hurry, if it needs to!)
So, why worry? VW designed the thermostat, radiator size, fan switches, and
warning systems to preserve the vehicle when it gets hot. As long as you are
absolutely meticulous in your maintenance, drive the p*ss out of your VWs. And
use your singals, and allow others to merge. :)
gmbulley
cary, nc
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