That is only if you go straight down hill all the way with no
gas pedal for a long time. In most realistic cases the gas pedal
is on and off alternately and the engine will not go dead cold.
Actually I step on the gas more than not when going down hill.
Let go the gas pedal completely is like applying brake with the
engine. That happens only when I was going to make a sharp turn.
I will step on the gas right after the turn.

It does take significantly less gas going down hill. So the coolant
temp will be cooler. I have seen my temp gauge went 2 - 3 mm to the
left of the LED. That happened when I came down from Yosemite on
highway 120.

David

--- On Thu, 10/8/09, Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: What Should I See On the Temperature Gage?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009, 3:21 PM
> Thanks, Karl -- this has been
> discussed twice in the past two years, in
> depth.
>
> I wrote the thing up in the wiki, which is down.*
>
> On long downhills, when your foot is off the gas and with
> the transmission
> in gear so the engine is being overrun, the ECU cuts off
> all fuel
> delivery. The pistons go up and down, sucking in and
> expelling cold air,
> but with no fuel to burn, the engine will go dead cold.
>
> =============
> * SUUUUDHIIIIIIRRRRRRR!!!!!!
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan
> Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 10/8/2009 11:53 AM Karl Wolz wrote:
>
> > Second vehicle needs to have its TPS adjusted.
> >
> > When going downhill above 1500 rpm with the throttle
> closed, the FI should
> > shut off, offering no heat to the coolant.
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> >
>