One thing I noticed about aircooleds while working on bugs. If the fan
belt is loose or cracked it tends to make the motor run a little hotter.
just a thought. Aloha, Ed

On Sun, 7 Jul 2002 22:25:19 -0400 John Brush <jbrush@AROS.NET> writes:
> >I think Simon's got a good point John, a terrific post anyway.
> Reminded
> >me of aircooled aero-engines for a minute there.
> >Bill too. Great stuff, I feel ashamed now having to admit mine's a
> poxy
> >Wasserboxer, so if I go near any sand or big hills on a hot day,
> I'm
> >going to check at least the cooling fan's working and the rad's
> really
> >clean, inside and out. 50/50 antifreeze mix as well.
>
> Well, I have always felt that way about any of the aircooled VW
> engines I
> have beaten up on. I suppose I could blame the present situation on
> the
> fact that I am out of work and in no position to spend any money on
> a new
> motor. Until lately, I have just gone ahead and towed a trailer with
> it,
> driven it "off road," and never worried too much about it. Some
> good
> advice came from someone on this list pointing out the fact that no
> matter
> what I do to it, a new motor is still cheaper than a new car/van, so
> use
> it, and if it breaks, fix it. I agree. I just can't afford to fix it
> at
> the moment, so maybe I am overly cautious.
>
> I am a bit concerned tho, because it has never run this hot in the
> year
> and a half I have had the temp gauge. One thing I have noticed is
> that
> running 70MPH on a wide, crowded freeway it will head quickly for
> 250
> degrees, but when I take the state highways, like through much of
> wyoming,
> it will run 20 degrees cooler, still running along at 70. A lot of
> it is
> certainly the temperature of the road.
>
> Oil is good, the tin is all there, the fan works, and the
> thermostat......
> How do I test that?? Guess I better go dig out mr bentley.
>
> The 'vanagon man' vouches for the extra oil cooler. It will be
> priority
> one when I get back to work. I hear that all I need to do is move
> to
> Oregon, dial up a legislator, and I can be pumping gas in not time
> at all!
> <g>
>
> Thanks for all the good advice and comments.
>
> Regards from Hell,
>
> John
>