Myron:  I'm no expert, but have gone round and round on head temp sender
locations for the Type IV engine.  The VW sending unit location will give
you a much lower than actual temp. reading.  Using the "replacement ring
under the sparkplug" sender that comes with the VDO gauge is prolly the most
accurate, but what a pain to chisel off the sealing ring from the #3(or
whatever) spark plug so the plug tip depth is consistent on all four
cylinders.  also, R&R ing that plug is a hassle as the sender ring moves
around a lot when doing final tightening.

I finally decided to mount the sender ring underneath the number three
exhaust manifold flange nut.  Not the easiest location to get at, but you do
it once and forget about it.  Yes, the exhaust temp is prolly hotter that
combustion chamber temp, but the quick response of the gauge when climbing a
hill  doesn't occur when you put the sender on the head temp sender from the
factory location.  Semi-instant information is what we're after here.

That motor lasted over 100k, but little thngs that Gene Berg espoused(he
hated the type 4 engine) conceptually like lower compression ratio, one
venturi per cylinder,, blah blah blah.  He said oil coolers weren't needed
when fuel air mixture was right on, but I had a big cooler anyway.   End of
memory lane.com for now

Dimwitted Moose and FlyingSquirrel
-----Original Message-----
From: Blue Ridge CycleWorks <brbikes@RICA.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, March 17, 2000 5:31 AM
Subject: Re: oil temp sensors

>My 81 has a oil temp sensor in the little round plate on the bottom of the
>engine right in front of where the oil filler tube goes in. It has worked
>very well since I bought it several months ago. I am also installing a VDO
>cylinder head temp into the little right head. I am using the hole that
>would be the temp sensor II if it was on the left.
>Myron Lind
>Harrisonburg, Virginia
>81 Westy