Date:         Thu, 22 Apr 1999 18:04:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject:      Re: VW VICIOUS VISCOUS COUPLER!
Comments: To: "Robert A. Alexander" <satcong@VOL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Bob...you are vague about what ambient temp might be, but your point is
valid i believe.  Nevertheless, temp does in my understanding play a role in
VC failure.  If the ambient temp of the fluid remains at an "excessive" temp
for prolonged period of time, the fluid's properties change.  It gets
cooked.  The cooked fluid engages sooner as the "ambient" temp of the fluid
rises.  The effect is that once you've cooked the fluid, and perhaps warped
some plates in the process, the VC starts engaging much sooner than it
should, at least when it is hot.  Heat cooks it in the first instance, and
once cooked, heat causes premature engagement.  This is just an uneducated
guess based on observation..or a description of symptoms.  I'm no expert on
the VC by any streach.

"Robert A. Alexander" wrote:

> Volks - I recently made a comment that I didn't think a temperature rise
> had anything to do with the Syncro's "magic box" ability to transmit
> power to the front wheels, but only that this "secret silicone stuff" VW
> patented solidifies when agitated, kinda like my EX.  Finally found the
> printout from http://www.volkswagen.org/Syncro
>
> I also recall reading on the List that even a 1/4 turn of "slippage" of
> a rear wheel of a Syncro results in the transfer of power to the front
> wheels.  If that is so, I do not believe that the temperature of this
> SSS (secret silicone stuff) can go from ambient temperature to 212
> degrees in that length of time.
>
> BOB