You wrote:
>I have an '80 VanagonL and was wondering if there was any way that an air
>cooled engine would overheat like under a load or in extreme heat like in
the
>desert?  If so is there a temperture light?

>I'm guessing that any environmental temperature extreme would still be far
>under operating temperatures so the engine could still cool itself.  Under
a
>load though it might be another matter.

Keeping an air cooled engine from overheating is largely a matter of how it
is driven. If you remember that the quantity of air that is cooling the
engine is dependent on engine speed, it helps. If you are operating under
load and the vehicle speed drops into the range for the next lower gear,
downshift so the engine is running at higher speed and getting more cooling.
Don't lug the engine. That always worked for me.

Marve
 <><
Air cooled vehicles I have owned:
'58 BMW Isetta
'59 VW bug
'67 VW squareback
'73 Honda Coupe
'72 VW Camper