Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 10:08:13 -0400
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: What Should I See On the Temperature Gage?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no
Actually, very steep descents often are impossible to negotiate without
using not only engine braking, but sometimes the brakes, even in a lower
gear. Of course, in such situations, the brakes can only be used
sparingly, or the brakes would overheat. Engine braking is essential to
keep to the speeds that the switchbacks dictate. I've never had a
problem with the engine cooling too much for its safety in such
situations, however, though the needle will drop a bit below the led.
Perhaps a very long descent on an interstate highway, which would tend
to be straighter, might induce "overcooling," but not in my experience.
David McNeely
On Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:02 AM, David Kao wrote:
> That is only if you go straight down hill all the way with no
> gas pedal for a long time. In most realistic cases the gas pedal
> is on and off alternately and the engine will not go dead cold.
> Actually I step on the gas more than not when going down hill.
> Let go the gas pedal completely is like applying brake with the
> engine. That happens only when I was going to make a sharp turn.
> I will step on the gas right after the turn.
>
> It does take significantly less gas going down hill. So the coolant
> temp will be cooler. I have seen my temp gauge went 2 - 3 mm to the
> left of the LED. That happened when I came down from Yosemite on
> highway 120.
>
> David
>
>
> --- On Thu, 10/8/09, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>
>> From: Rocket J Squirrel Subject: Re: What Should I See On the
>> Temperature Gage?
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 3:21 PM
>> Thanks, Karl -- this has been
>> discussed twice in the past two years, in
>> depth.
>>
>> I wrote the thing up in the wiki, which is down.*
>>
>> On long downhills, when your foot is off the gas and with
>> the transmission
>> in gear so the engine is being overrun, the ECU cuts off
>> all fuel
>> delivery. The pistons go up and down, sucking in and
>> expelling cold air,
>> but with no fuel to burn, the engine will go dead cold.
>>
>> =============
>> * SUUUUDHIIIIIIRRRRRRR!!!!!!
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan
>> Capistrano, Calif.)
>> Bend, OR
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>> On 10/8/2009 11:53 AM Karl Wolz wrote:
>>
>>> Second vehicle needs to have its TPS adjusted.
>>>
>>> When going downhill above 1500 rpm with the throttle
>> closed, the FI should
>>> shut off, offering no heat to the coolant.
>>>
>>> Karl Wolz
>>>
>>
| 
