With any engine it's better to downshift & bring the RPMs up than lug the
engine.

So, based on this I'd "assume" that it would be better to downshift and take
the shorter steep route.

Tom
www.towercooler.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Mark L. Hineline
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 3:55 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Climbing

If you must climb 1000 feet in an aircooled Vanagon, is it better for
the life of the engine to take the long and gradual route? Or to
downshift and climb over on the short but steep route?

Mark
1982 Westy