What size tires are on those 15" wheels? It could very well be the engine
cannot turn fast enough to make the horsepower required to get to the speed
you want. This "lugging" of the engine is not a good thing at all.  The 87
may also be more inclined to have an overly optimistic speedometer.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Finn Runyon
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2012 9:59 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Oil in Coolant

Thanks in advance for your ongoing support of this issue.  Those who have
been following this issue may remember that I moved from NJ to Taos, NM last
summer.  I purchased a second Westfalia upon our arrival out here because
our 87 has serious rust.  The 87 is an automatic, the 89 a 4 speed with
positraction and Rhein 15" wheels.  Several questions, Now that there is no
further migration of oil into the coolant since I changed the oil cooler, I
am trying to get a feel for the performance of this engine.  At
7000 feet here in Taos, I believe that the hp loss is around 21%, vs my 87
automatic at sea level. I imagine that the 89 also feels a bit slower due to
the 15" wheels, but I can't directly compare the two as the 87's front end
is apart. Is there anyone listening that is at a similar altitude.  I would
have no problem getting to say 75 mph at sea level in the 87.  If feels as
though 75 in the 89 is unreachable?  Where I am going with this is wondering
if the overheat that the previous owner did damaged something else?

My second issue is at start up.  The bus will start and idle pretty smoothly
if I let warm up a bit.  If I start it and try to move without letting it
warm up fully it stalls and is cranky to get going again without some
throttle input.  Once it is warm, it runs pretty smoothly.  Is there
something I should be looking into for start up.  I don't remember the choke
situation, but it acts as if the fuel injection is not compensating for a
cold start?

Thanks,
Finn