I just installed a tencentlife oil cooler set up..
I approve of it.
the more delux syncro version has a temp triggered electric fan on it too.
goes behind right tail light.
bit expensive though..
around 500 ish I think.

Scott
turbovans
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2010 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: Oil overfill... or not? (long post)

> if you search on the samba classifieds for "tencentlife" , he has a
> good looking oil cooler system for sale...
>
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=514460
>
>
> I think the coolant cooling system, if in good condition, is good in
> the vanagon. I mean it has good capacity to cool. One wonders though,
> with our older vans, just how tip top shape the cooling system is.
> Oil cooling might be improved especially when driving loaded westy at
> speed. Oil temps seem to, in my experience, go up in relationship to
> engine rpm, whereas at speed the airflow through rad keeps coolant
> temp in check. You notice that rad fan comes on more often when
> idling or going slow.
>
> My highest oil temps have occurred (in my I4 conversion) when driving
> fast in hot weather. My highest oil and coolant temps happening
> together have occurred when labouring up steep rough roads in low
> gears (even down to first), fully loaded westy, summer trips -  low
> vehicle speed but high engine rpm.
>
> Ideally, oil temps should be around 100 C, give or take. I had oil
> temp and press. gauges in my westy, VDO, and while its debatable just
> how accurate they were, they did give relative info that I liked to
> have.
>
> Also, I always used synthetic oils in that engine. Just for peace of
> mind and knowing the little engine would be working hard and needed
> all the help it could get. Oh and while this is not applicable to the
> wasserboxer, I did install a "windage plate" between sump and block.
> That is supposed to reduce oil foaming a bit, and reduce oil slop on
> cornering.
>
>
> alistair
>
> PS Adventurous European Vanagon drivers travel in N. Africa and also
> there are Vanagons in S. Africa. Web searches might give you info on
> their solutions. I know that there is at least on German supplier
> (Bernd Jager?) that installs front mounted oil cooler an long supply
> lines for diesel installs.
>
>
> On 5-Aug-10, at 9:03 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>
>
> so, is this German vehicle just not engineered to operate at the
> elevated temperatures that we experience in the hotter parts of NA?
> I know that people do run them in Arizona, Baja, Texas, Southern
> California.  Are my experiences consistent with those of others?  I'm
> not having any running problems, and the engine seems to run at the
> proper operating temperature, so far as the coolant system reports.
> Oil pressure is certainly "adequate" as reported by the gauge.
> Mechanics have told me not to worry about the occasional blinking of
> the oil pressure light at idle, so long as slightly raising the rpms
> causes it to stop blinking, and it stays stopped when the rpms drop.
> But the blinking resulting from long runs at elevated ambient
> temperatures, coupled with the "low adequate" oil pressure on those
> runs makes me wonder about oil temperature.
>
> Are the more robust (effective) oil coolers that you mention
> available for install on the beast?  If so, do they add maintenance
> concerns of their own?  I have generally preferred to keep things
> stock on a vehicle, not wanting to simply create other matters to
> deal with.  After all, excellent engineers designed it -- or not?  Of
> course, the waterboxer is a problematic engine in other regards, too,
> and its high maintenance demands make me less than in love with it,
> as some of you already know.
>
> But, it performed well on the trip out west, and my wife loves it for
> its camping utility.  Keeps her off the ground except when we
> backpack, and she likes the kitchen.  When I cook while camping, I
> often do a good part of it outdoors, and I always wash up outdoors --
> easier to me than the tiny sink.  Two can hardly work on cooking
> together with the available space in the camper.
>
> Dave