My grandfather had a Stutz Bearcat, and he did the same thing to get
it started in winter... in Alabama.

Jim

On Nov 15, 2006, at 8:56 PM, Jeffrey Schwaia wrote:

> I used to do something similar to my bug when I lived in Montana,
> except I
> used a can of Sterno.  Much simpler and it worked great.  I learned
> it from
> the locals in Bozeman.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Zoltan
> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: "Fireing up" my van Re: Aircooled Vanagons
>
>
> 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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>