Date:         Sat, 25 Jul 1998 10:39:05 -0400
Reply-To:     Bill Collins <wb6otg@INTREX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Collins <wb6otg@INTREX.NET>
Subject:      Re: AC and engine temps
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>  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?

Sounds about like any water cooled VW that I have ever had, although the
fan should be on any time the A/C is on.  I can't see that the fan
matters much at 70mph.  Stuck in city traffic you could blow an A/C hose
(or worse) if the fan doesn't run whenever the compressor is on.

Bill