On 11 Jun 2005 at 8:51, George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM> wrote:

> In a message dated 6/10/05 1:00:59 PM, starwagen@GMAIL.COM writes:
>
> << RE: Does the rear heater add to engine cooling?
>
> I'll answer this from direct experience.  I had an '85 with cooling problems
> (later replaced the radiator).  On summer trips on the highway, climbing
> mountain passes, I had the rear heater open (and the front heater also) with the
> fan on max for the extra cooling.  When I turned the rear fan and or the front
> heater fan on to full blast you could see the temp level drop.  Kind of like
> Feynman and the ice cubes, run the experiment and get the answer. >>
>
> The only thing all this proves (?) is that a van will overheat with a junk
> radiator hanging out front.

Interesting... I ran for several years without my rear heater installed on the '88, until I
got around to resealing the bleeder screw. I can't say I noticed any difference, but
then mine rarely ran much above the LED anyway, even on long climbs. I have
noticed a gradual rise in the average cruising position of the gauge over the years,
leading me to suspect the rad needs flushing.

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D
'88 Westy 2.1L, soon to be 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy