Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 22:29:05 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hot oil -- good idea to change, I reckon
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds8D54256115613BF004524A01C0@phx.gbl>
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Well yeah -- under conditions of varying acceleration, a bubble level
can't give a useful reading. But when driving steadily, the eye can
easily average out the fluctuations and get a sense of whether the van
is heading uphill or downhill, and whether the grade is steep. I should
point out that there are plenty of roads I've been on that look flat and
aren't, look uphill but aren't, and look downhill and aren't. The level
sorts that out, which is real nice because it's puzzling to have to
downshift on what looks to be a flat road. The bubble's position
correlates quite well with how hard the engine is working.
And when the bubble is "pegged" off either end of the scale, it's safe
to assume that the grade is pretty darn steep.
But the main purpose of the bubble levels is to level the van when
setting up for camp. One level on the door for fore-and-aft tiltage,
another mounted low on the dash for side-to-side tiltage. Makes cooking
easier if the stovetop is level.
235 degrees isn't hot enough to degrade the oil? I thought that stuff --
even synthetic -- started breaking down in that neighborhood.
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
Sent from my kitchen.
On 09/05/2011 09:54 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Since you have an oil cooler you may have to play with the level a bit
> depending on how much drains out of the cooler system. Normal fill for me
> with filter is 4.5 quarts.
>
> As for your oil temperature 235 is not only no big deal but normal under
> those climbing conditions. At least your added cooler is doing something.
> The bubble level only gives a reasonable reading while the vehicle is
> stationary.
>
> Have the oil tested if you really want to know its condition.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 6:58 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Hot oil -- good idea to change, I reckon
>
> So just got back from a Labor Day camping trip down in California. Mrs
> Squirrel's sons and families talked us into driving ten (ten!) hours to East
> Park Reservoir, south of Redding, ahead of time to grab space for everyone
> to camp.
>
> It was hot. 100 (F) +
>
> Mellow Yellow did fine, even hauling the trailer full of extra decoy camping
> gear (spare popup tents and screen houses and other structures to pepper the
> space with and add that look of "occupancy," firewood, coolers full of food,
> etc). There was, however, a steep grade for several miles. I don't know how
> steep it was, higher than 7 degrees which is where the bubble level I have
> on my driver's door maxes out.
> "Haut category," I reckon it would be called in the professional bicycle
> tours circuit.
>
> A two-lane road, we climbed and we climbed. The oil temp gauge hit 235,
> easily. Hottest I've ever seen it. I was in first gear (auto trans) and kept
> the rpms to 3100. And the road continued to climb. No places to pull out and
> let folk behind us pass. Just up and up and hotter and hotter.
>
> I am of the opinion that I would do well to do an oil change.
>
> One question (this is a FAQ if I ever saw one): how much oil to put in?
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> Bend, Ore.
> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in San
> Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>
> Sent from my kitchen.
>
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