As frank has pointed out the design of the cooling
system is clearly engineered to adequately cool a good
engine that is properly timed.   I have some
reservations about the actual air flow through the
radiator itself.   My 87 runs in what I call the
normal range in the SF bay area but when I do hills in
warm areas above 85 degrees the van begins running in
the high normal(high spped fan is on) which leads me
to believe that the cooling system does not handle the
load.   If I turned the heater on with out the fan the
temperature will go from high normal back to normal.
My conclusion is that the engine under a load presents
the cooling system with more heat than it can get rid
of and this can be off set by the heater.   This
condition is indicative of a tired motor rather than a
poorly preforming cooling system.   Heat passes past
the rings under the load.   One other possible cause
may be retarded timing.   Either one of these things
can make your cooling system appear inadequate.
                  another point of view, gary
Date:    Wed, 2 Oct 2002 01:57:23 EDT
From:    Frank Grunthaner <FrankGRUN@AOL.COM>
Subject: On the Vanagon Cooling System

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