I finally completed an extended trip with my 81 air cooled since
installing the oil temp gauge. Mostly this message is just to get the
small amount of info I have on the subject, into the archives. <g>

The sender unit is installed in place of the drain plug, for those who
recognize the differences that can exist in temp readings.

The ambient temperature was around 80-85 degrees as I went from SLC to
Yellowstone NP via I-15 and Rt 20. It took about 45 minutes of highway
speed for the temp to get up over 200 degrees, and as I cruised at
65mph, never getting to 70mph, the temp pretty much stuck at 230. There
are several long grades and I never really saw it bump up past 240. In
fact the hottest it got was when I pulled over for a few minutes and
left it running. That was when the temp got to the max I saw, which was
250, but it returned to 230 as soon as I started cruising again. At
least now I have a benchmark for the same trip with my pop-up trailer
attached. (845lbs empty) I didn't take the trailer on this trip, but I
can tow it pretty easily around home, so now I am hoping I can get over
the long grades without too much stress.

I don't know what I did to get a van as fantastic as this one :) as I
have no problems keeping up with traffic, I never have a line behind me
on any of the grades, and it moves along just great. I pass others and
my son just shakes his head and says "this must be so embarassing for
them" :) Too loud inside, so I need to do some sound deadener, but with
all else it does, I cannot complain. Sometimes I wish it had carpet, but
when we get in and out in the rain, are dirty from a hike, or spill some
food, its great to have those rubber mats instead. It can certainly make
it to 80mph, but since I have installed the tach, I can see that is not
such a wise thing to do :-) I stayed at 65 for most of the trip, and
averaged about 22mpg including the time in the park, so I am very
pleased. Being able to use the lower grade fuel is a bonus.

I am just blabbering here because there is no one else to talk to about
vanagons <g> but a while ago I decided that I should just go ahead and
tow the trailer since the penalty would probably just be a new motor,
which I will need someday anyway. Then I take a trip like this and it
runs flawlessly, so I am not as anxious to replace the motor. <shrug>
All that really matters is that the motor doesn't puke too far from
civilization. I can live with the repair cost, but I don't want to have
to tow it and a trailer hundreds of miles <g>

I have had this van since 1989, but every year, with every trip I take,
I realize that I am hooked and not able to consider traveling any other
way, especially with children. That is why I will have to risk towing
the trailer. Simply put, I love my van! Next time I will be hauling my
pop-top trailer with my fingers crossed.

The only downside I could find was it used 4 qts of oil in the 1000 mile
trip. The plugs are text book perfect looking, and it does not leak
anything of consequence, so I guess my hat is off to the German
Engineers, and to my mechanics who set it up perfectly.

Anyway, that was my weekend and it was a great time!

Thanks for listening <g>

Regards from Utah,

John