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Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:27 am

So, my commute to work is about 20 miles; most of that commute is 70mph highway speeds. When I get to work, if I try to check the oil the dipstick is uncomfortably hot. I have read here that a hot dipstick is not normal. Should I be able to touch my dipstick after a 20 mile highway jaunt?

Details about the car:
1971 Super
recently re-jugged 1600 dual port
running a 30-pict VW carb of unknown origin
EMPI GT exhaust
009 Distributor of unknown lineage, but confirmed advance is correct using dial back timing light. 28* total advance, I do not recall the exact rpms
Valves are set

Car runs like a champ, I have taken 60 mile highway trips in it and it seems to do just fine. Starts easy in the am and fairly easy when warm.

Thoughts?

sb

Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:34 am

Your question is unanswerable. How hot is hot? Without numbers, it is all vague and arbitrary. Some people are more
sensitive to heat than others. My second ex-wife liked to take showers at a temperature that would make me scream in pain.
Get a no-contact (infrared) thermometer, then there will be something to talk about.

Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:00 am

well, a hot dipstick would seem normal, just because of common sence. The dipstick is sitting in 250 degree oil and the heat will radiate up it, because it is metal. We need numbers to be able to see it there is actually a problem.

Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:10 am

The “Poor Man’s” Dipstick Test
With the engine completely warmed up, grab the dip stick and pull it out. If you can JUST hold it without it burning your fingers, the engine temperature is OK. If it burns your fingers (and the engine will usually smell hot too), then the temperature is too high -- possibly as high as 285°F (140°C) -- VERY hot!
Source: http://www.vw-resource.com/overheating.html

Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:08 pm

Dipstick hot to the touch! Only grab it after it's been in use for a while? Grab your dipstick - if you can hold it without burning your fingers? Dipstick is uncomfortably hot when you get to work? My second ex-wife liked to take showers....? Yeah, it's hard to grab my dipstick sometimes, too!

HaHaHaHaHa!!! Keep 'em coming - you guys kill me! I love TheSamba!

Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:03 pm

You need to run at least a quick and dirty test. Get yourself a cheap candy thermometer from Wally World, something like this will do...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Progressive-Internationa...gMethod=rr

Check how accurate it is by placing it in boiling water (don't let the tip touch the bottom of the pan!). It should read 212°F at sea level. I see you're in San Antonio, so 210° is the exact number. If it's off just write down the error, like "add 5°".
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/boiling-points-water-altitude-d_1344.html

Then pull out the hot dipstick and put the thermometer in its place. Add your error factor and you're done. If the needle hits 230° or higher (pegs out at max on this cheapie thermometer), that's too hot. You'll have to take action to bring it down.

Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:24 pm

What I would do is to prop the engine lid with an empty soda can. Take the top of the can use the latch hook in the top of the can then lower the engine cover. This lowered my oil temps 10 to 15 degrees on the gauge.

Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:46 pm

Good stuff.

Here's a few points I checked after running it 22 miles mostly @ 65-70mph.

Dipstick handle: 199.2 degrees Fahrenheit
engine block a bit behind the pulley: 208 degrees
cylinder head below the spark plug: 221 degrees

I used an infrared remote thermometer.

I should note I do have a working thermostat, all the directional vanes (flaps) in place and all OG tin except the tin that goes over the bell housing....that's Taiwanese.

sb

Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:37 pm

sounds like you are in the normal range of 210. If it doesn't climb much past that on longer trips, you are good to go.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:14 pm

TjdTaylor wrote: well, a hot dipstick would seem normal, just because of common sence. The dipstick is sitting in 250 degree oil and the heat will radiate up it, because it is metal. We need numbers to be able to see it there is actually a problem.

If your oil is 250, you got a problem.

Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:59 pm

flyboat wrote: TjdTaylor wrote: well, a hot dipstick would seem normal, just because of common sence. The dipstick is sitting in 250 degree oil and the heat will radiate up it, because it is metal. We need numbers to be able to see it there is actually a problem.

If your oil is 250, you got a problem.

It was for numbers sake, i have NO IDEA what my engine runs at, ive got an oil temp sender / guage comming in the mail right now.