George,
       When I am going up a long hill and the high
speed fan is going and the gauge is reading high, I
slow down a bit.   If I wait until the light begins to
flash before I slow down I am sure it will take some
extra time to deal with a problem that could have been
avoided.
     If you are driving in stop and go traffic and the
temperature gauge is high on a regular basis and the
high speed fan cycles on and off, sure you can wait
again until the light begins to flash or you pop a
hose.
    Rule number one for me regarding the coolant
system of the vanagon is that the engine temperature
as read by the gauge and the radiator temperature as
read by the cycling low and high speed fan should be
very much coorelated.   Both have very similiar ways
of measuring the temperature of the coolant.   If they
are out of synch than it is likely that you have some
disruption of flow to the radiator.
   Sure you can live with this condition for a while
but some day it will catch up to you and yes George
and VW of America that flashing light will come on but
this can be avoided.   regards Gary
--- george jannini <georgejoann@juno.com> wrote:

>
> re, high temp gauge reading
>
> << I disagree with those who claim you don't have a
> problem and you are
> correct to be concerned. >>
>
>    Excerpted from my 1989 Vanagon/Transporter
> owner's manual:
>
> Engine operating temperature will vary with climate,
> traffic conditions
> and engine     load. Maintain moderate speed until
> the engine has warmed
> up.
>
> When the engine is working hard and in stop and go
> traffic or in hot
> weather, the needle can show a very high
> temperature, but this is not
> serious as long as the warning light does not flash.
>
>      George/ATL
>      '89 WesTiico, Wernher

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