Bob,

It ain't even got hot yet!  Wait a month or two.

I have an IR thermometer and have found it quite useful for measuring
the exhaust pipes just off the heads when I have a miss.  The cold pipe
is the one with the bad plug, connection, etc.  Also convenient for
measuring the temp drop between radiator hoses.

Karl

 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf Of
 > Robert Lilley
 > Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:33 AM
 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 > Subject: How hot is your van? Get a IR Thermometer and find out...
 >
 > I bought a IR Thermometer at Radio Shack a few days ago (37$ after
batteries
 > and taxes).  Neat device.  I have been measuring the temps inside
over the
 > past few days.
 >
 > Got inside yesterday after the van sat in the sun (@90F) for @1.5
hours and
 > took some temp readings.
 >
 > The front A/C air ducts over head were 124 F, in about 6 minutes with
the
 > a/c on they were 58F. The door in the sun was 141F
 > At the end of my 40 minute trip I measured the air duct temp at the
back and
 > it was at 48F.
 >
 > I measured the temps around the front floor.
 > Under the gas pedal it hit 137F.  On the left side it was 105F center
was
 > 117F Right side was 124 Just behind the gear shifter it was 110  a
little
 > further back 105.
 > A/C duct overhead was at 60F.
 >
 > That could explain why I had a hot foot during the hot summers in
Mesa, AZ.
 >
 >
 > I measured some around the engine compartment also.
 > Exhaust pipe that had ceramic coatings were @350F.  Places that had
no
 > coating or heat wrap were above 418F [gauge only goes to 400F (418F
actual)]
 >
 >
 > I plan to add some heat blocking material under the front, behind
radiator
 > and in engine compartment and on the floor under the front to control
the
 > heating problem.
 >
 >
 > I do not like having a cool head and a hot lower body, plus when it
hits a
 > 110 outside the heat radiating of the van floor is too much for the
A/C to
 > compensate for and three to five hot bodies inside.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > Robert