Hi Jake.

Yah sorry. Was saying 40-45 MPH. And kinda guessing at that as speedo
not totally accurate. Not lugging for sure. I can tell by "pitch" of
engine.

Thanks for pointer re: cooling. As one lister pointed out a while
back, keeping the revs up really helps cooling. I do. And not keeping
the "pedal to the metal" for any sustained long duration, is important
too.

In a hurry? No! And I make sure to *try* to let people go past me when
possible. And wow. Can't believe the diff between driving secondary
highways and getting onto #1 here in lower mainland. Yeesh!

Thanks again Jake, and sorry list for such an elementary question.
Searching archives at libraries with dial up modems just takes too
long!

Neil.

On 8/28/07, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> Neil, it sounds as though you're in too high a gear and lugging your motor.
> Third gear at 25 MPH is too slow and will build a lot of heat in the motor.
> In my 1.9 if I can't maintain 45 MPH in third I do 25 MPH in second.
>
> Try second gear at 25 MPH (40 KPH) instead.  The motor is in a stronger
> place and by turning faster will pump more cooling air past the cylinders.
>
> There's no hurry anyway, right?  :)
>
> Seeya, Jake
>
>
> On 8/28/07, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi all.
> >
> > Am in Republic WA right now.
> >
> > Through *really* steep Colville forest hills, head temps stay at 475 F at
> > 40-45 km's in 3rd gear. Oil level is fine and oil consumption much less
> than
> > half a litre in over 1700 km's.
> >
> > I was reading gauge incorrectly. (D-oh!) What I thought was 400 F on steep
> > hills, was actually 450 F. On level road, my Westy used to stay at 350,
> but
> > is sometimes higher now. Sometimes 400 F or over. (may be windy conditions
> > forcing engine to work harder)
> >
> > I replaced VDO temp sensor after damaging first one when re- installing
> > spark plug on #3 cylinder. I used old temp sensor ring as washer to help
> > plug turn on washer and not twist sensor while turning plug. Reason
> original
> > ruined. Head temps were high, so removed "washer" thinking plug sitting
> too
> > "high". New sensor wire got a little chewed again so may not be sending
> > correctly.
> >
> > Question:
> >
> > IF sensor sending correctly, is 475 F on *steep* hills, too high?
> >
> > Any other way to judge if engine too hot? (feeling dipstick etc.)
> >
> > Engine runs fine otherwise.
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Neil.
> >
> > --
> > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
> > "Jaco"  (Bustorius)
> >
> > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> >
> > Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links!
> > http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius)

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links!
http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home