Joel,
1>What are the maximum temperatures at the radiator?
2> What are the readings at the engine?
3>Do you get good heat out of the heaters?
4>Does running the heaters at full blast help?

Ken Lewis
http://neksiwel.20m.com/
in statu viae
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Cort" <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:02 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] How to determine if you need new heads?

Hi gang,

A buddy here in Rochester is going nuts throwing new parts at his 87 - 2.1
ltr. He claims to be overheating according to the dash gauge and to the
infrared temp readings. The engine warms up normally and at idle sits above
the red blinking led about midway to HOT. When we run it on the freeway it
rises almost to the max HOT tick mark on the gauge.

We have changed the following and are baffled at the continuous "hot"
engine:

New water pump,
new little coolant hoses to oil cooler
New thermostat
new thermostat housing top
New TempII sensor
New Temp Sender
New wiring plugs spliced in for senders.
New radiator
New VW Blue coolant.

there are no visible leaks and the air is purged out properly of the system.
And the darn engine runs hot. I don't know what else to fix or replace.

And I asked him to double check the timing too to ensure proper position

Any advice from the list will be welcomed.
Joel Cort

Rochester NY.

89 Syncro Westy (CinnabarVan)
87 Syncro Transporter (Stella)
73 Westy Campmobile (agent orange)

Founding Member of the Empire VW Camping Club
&
Westies at Watkins - www.westies-at-watkins.org