I've used a 500w halogen light to both deice my pressure washer and to keep
it from freezing up to begin with.... they put out quite a bit of heat.
Probably safer than lighting a fire under your van. : )

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil" <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: "Fireing up" my van Re: Aircooled Vanagons

> Yes, but could you put a grill under there too and
> cook up a steak while waiting for things to warm up?
> The dripping oil might give it that "AC engine"
> flavour!
>
> Heh heh......  ;^)
>
> But seriously, that's a brave way to warm up the
> engine. But I guess you do what you gotta do eh?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
>
> --- Zoltan <zolo@foxinternet.net> wrote:
>
>> Once, I could not start the van in a very cold
>> weather, the oil was too
>> thick.  So, I went out and bought some barbeque coal
>> and lighter fluid and
>> cut an gallon oil can on the side, put the coal in
>> and fired it up, waited
>> until it burned down to amber then pushed it under
>> the van's engine and
>> waited for fifteen minutes.  It started up the first
>> try.
>> I learned it in Hungary, when I seen a tractor being
>> heated up from under
>> the same way.
>> I know, some faint hearted would have called the
>> police.  That's what faint
>> hearted do.
>> Zoltan
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "neil" <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:18 PM
>> Subject: Re: Aircooled Vanagons
>>
>>
>> > Though I was thinking an external oil cooler would
>> be
>> > best suited for hotter climes, yes of course I
>> agree.
>> > It's a good point. Using it when it's cold out,
>> would
>> > really never let the oil come up to temp. Or at
>> least
>> > not let it come up to temp quickly enough.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --- ------------- <VW4X4@verizon.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >> "external cooler can't hurt"
>> >>
>> >>                This really isn't true.    Oill
>> >> doen't lubricate until
>> >> approx. 150  Deg.    This is why you should never
>> >> beat a
>> >> cool engine.  Running a oil cooler in 0 deg
>> weather,
>> >> in
>> >> not good.
>> >>                          Joe
>> >>
>> >> neil wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I recently installed a head temp sensor on my 81
>> >> AC.
>> >> >It read 350-475(475 on hills) on a recent trip
>> in
>> >> mild
>> >> >weather. I've replaced the engine seal, and have
>> >> >brought rest of engine up to snuff (as best I
>> can
>> >> w/o
>> >> >dealing with internals). It runs well and I'm
>> >> >confident that this engine won't overheat.
>> But.....
>> >> >
>> >> >An external cooler can't hurt, especially in
>> hotter
>> >> >climes. Since this van was made for travel, and
>> is
>> >> >heavier (Westy) it might make sense to install a
>> >> >cooler. Regardless these engines work fine stock
>> IF
>> >> >properly maintained. i.e. I didn't realize just
>> how
>> >> >important the engine seal was (thanks list) to
>> >> keeping
>> >> >the engine within safe temps.
>> >> >
>> >> >For now the expense of adding a cooler isn't
>> >> >warranted. Who knows, if I travel to much hotter
>> >> >climes, I may install a cooler. But if it
>> doesn't
>> >> over
>> >> >heat, then no need IMHO. Besides I may just end
>> up
>> >> >being the neighborhood nutter who puts in an
>> AZZ-TD
>> >> or
>> >> >Subie in his AC van.
>> >> >
>> >> >(need a dang-diddly-o-dry garage first. These
>> >> >carport-capers just aren't cutting it with this
>> >> >sideways rain! And am I nuts to be thinking of
>> >> selling
>> >> >and moving to a place with a proper 2 car
>> >> garage/shop
>> >> >just because I own and work on a Vanagon????)
>> >> >
>> >> >Cheers but not nuts,
>> >> >
>> >> >Neil.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >--- Conrad Klahn <conradk@MAC.COM> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >>Hi,
>> >> >>
>> >> >>I have an aircooled Vanagon in need of a
>> rebuild.
>> >> >>I'm sure I have
>> >> >>been hell on this thing per Bob's comments -
>> but
>> >> it
>> >> >>has never broken
>> >> >>down on me. All I want is to go 55 up a 30
>> degree
>> >> >>grade, which I know
>> >> >>would require a miracle and a 55 MPH tail wind.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>I was recently discouraged from Jake Raby's
>> rant
>> >> on
>> >> >>Aircooled
>> >> >>Vanagons. So I know that there are people with
>> all
>> >> >>sorts of opinions,
>> >> >>even from those that know more than me.
>> However, I
>> >> >>do think an
>> >> >>additional oil cooler and ceramic coating
>> offset
>> >> >>many of the pitfalls
>> >> >>of this design.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>Conrad
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
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>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>>
>>
>
>
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