This is not normal for an 85 or any other waterboxer Vanagon. There is a
cooling fan on the radiator for just such situations. Whenever there is
not enough road speed to blow sufficient air through the radiator the
fan should come on. Do you hear it in stop and go traffic? If not, this
should be fixed. The fan and it's wiring circuit are easily checked. If
these are ok, the likely culprit is the temperature switch for the fan.
It is behind the lower grill on the front driver's side of the radiator.
These are not expensive.

Mark

Todd Guttman wrote:
>
> Like Phaedra, our '85 Westy's temperature gauge goes up in prolonged
> stop-and-go city traffic.  I too 'treat' the malady with 'tincture of
> heater' and like Phaedra - would be interested in some cheap Nomex socks for
> my feet!
>
> Is this a minor warm weather design problem common to all of our '85's?
> I've always though that there was just a wee bit of air left in the system
> causing this annoying cooling gremlin.
>
> Todd
>
> Columbus, OH
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: PSavage <psavage@saber.net>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 7:04 AM
> Subject: Re: Emergency engine cooling
>
> > Climbing steep, winding  Mexican grades, when my engine gets REALLY hot--I
> > can keep the temp guage needle where it belongs--just by driving with the
> > heater on.
> >
> > My '85 never overheats at highway speeds, but she'll heat
> > up quickly in prolonged stop & go city traffic or doing steep grades in
> low
> > gear--especially when weather's warm.
> >
> > "Cooling" the engine with the heater gives an extra measure
> > of controll & protection.
> > Sometimes I wish for a teflon sock, but it works!
> >
> >
> > Phaedra
> >