I am in the process of proving to myself that my 81 2.0L can, or cannot,
tow my small trailer. Over the weekend, I took a drive without the
trailer, then the same route with the trailer attached for the first
time.

My oil temp sensor is in the drain plug. I am aware that there might be
better places to monitor the oil temp, but this is where I put mine. I
am not as concerned with exact temperature, as I am with trying to
compare 'with and without' readings.

The ambient temperature was about 55 degrees, so the temperature
readings between the two, thirty minute trips was only about 10 degrees
at the most. Performance was as I expected :) I am suprised to see that
the temp reading from the drain plug hang around 160 to 180 degress. Is
that what one might expect?

As a general request, I would like to solict opinions on what folks
would consider a max oil temperature in an air cooled engine that they
put up with. I acknowledge that different locations show different
temps, and that oil type comes into play as well, and that I would do
well with a cylinder head temp gauge. I use 10W40, but not synthetic. I
am sure there are as many opinions as there are brands of oil, but I
have no frame of reference, and a lot of you have been doing this much
longer than I have, so I am hoping for some general opinions.

I am subscribed to the air cooled list, but I lost the address that I
should send messages to, so once I find that again, <g> I will be
looking there for some expertise as well. There is a lot of info on oil,
and temperature readings, in the archives for both lists, but I find
nothing that tells me how hot is just plain too hot.

Much obliged for any comments. Thanks for listening to the ramblings.

Regards from Utah,

John