Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 13:16:04 -0400
Reply-To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Tempurature
On my 87 there is only 2 speeds, the lower one come ON at the upper part of
the cooling level light and the high speed at about 3/4, this is to high!(I
have a manual switch for the second speed)
The engine temperature should be about the same in wintertime and summer
time on a Westy and on most car. This is the reason we have thermostat on
our vehicle, in winter time the thermo is mostly or partially close. In
summer time or hot temp condition, it is open or partially open to maintain
the perfect temperature. So the needle should always be at the same
position, especially at cruising speed.
In heavy traffic it is normal that the temperature climbs a bit but the rad
fan should regulated the temperature just above the cooling light. The temp
should go down as fast as she went up when you star driving forward. NEVER
RUN THIS VAN AT 3/4 GAUGE READING
The new VW OEM gauge temp sensor give a higher READING, about +10% more,
the new OEM thermo maintain a higher temperature, about +15%, VW Canada
told me that the engine was running to cold before-------bullshit. (So what
you see in the front dash gauge whit those new parts is an increase of
about 20-25% on the dash gauge if you change both parts for new OEM parts,
not good!
Monitor closely the condition of the Water pump, thermostat and front
radiator. A partially clogged front radiator could react slowly and result
in a slow temperature change as the coolant is having a hard time flowing
trough this one.
Have a pressure test done on the cooling system, look for leak, internal or
external.
Special note:
I met a very nice fellow the past weekend; he had a simple solution to the
head gasket-leaking problem and other "dried oil seal problem" on VW van.
Lower temperature thermostat!!!
This guy is an old VW mechanic; he worked 30 years with the same VW dealer
(and of course is speciality was the flat-4). He now buy and sell
vanagon-Westy for pleasure (he says that the older model are to rusty). He
personally owns a 90GL (in perfect condition with only 45k miles and a 1966
bus with the small scare pop top (A beauty). He confirms what I was
thinking; the normal operating temperature on a vanagon is to high with the
new VW 87deg thermostat, the flexible heads gasket dry-up (I should say
cooked) easily and faster at that temperature. This guy did more head
change that all of us join together. He as nothing to prove, he is very
discreet and don't talk much. But he is always carrying a photos album whit
over 15 different westy that he owns over the past 35 years. Sadly he
doesn't know shit about Internet. He also stated that the lack of fresh air
as always been the problem on all the VW rear engine van, even the
water-cooled.
Note that this is not my personal comment, it's a professional VW mechanic
comment, and I should add a truly westy lover.
Since he started putting lower thermostat on all the van he sells (long
time ago-10years), he never he had to replace a head gasket. His words!
My conclusion:
The hell with VW new higher temperature thermostat, get the 80-82deg
thermostat from Bus depot or other good parts dealer, monitor your cooling
system carefully, change parts before they break, add oil pressure sender,
temp oil sender and gauge to your van. Change the coolant each 2 years.
Rebuilt engine are getting rare and expensive.
You are better off cooler than to hot!
My 2cents, Ben
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm
