78 FI running hot / Dipstick Temp Sensor?

[airkooledchris]

Those dipstick warning lights do work to keep your foot off the gas though.

There's something nice about not knowing what the temp is, just that you need to get off the gas and slow down anytime the light turns on. I ran one in a bus of mine years and years ago and im sure it's why I was able to put so many miles on it in such a short period of time. Im fairly sure it came on well before it was hitting 425* at the heads, but I just happily puttered along at 55-60 everywhere I went and was happy to never break down anywhere along my trips (outside of a few simple points replacements.)

[Togz]

Good advice all around. Thanks gang! Waiting on flashing foil to show up to lock down all the small gaps on the engine bay. Another thing I hadn't gotten around to was installing the new engine hatch door seal which I can imagine was also not helping matters. Issue is that I had got the 4 piece off of bus depot that is too bulky to let the door shut. I'm going to have to reorder the one piece that is more recommended. For the time being, is it okay to drive without the seal?
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[aerosurfer]

Yes, while its all cumulative, really no one single missing piece is going to break your engine. The lid seal is probably the least of your worries. It's more of an assurance that you are not sucking back in tail pipe fumes through the heat ducts than, an issue with hot air getting into the motor. Fix is as time allows, but don't sweat it until then
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Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness

77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)

[a-marshal]

FWIW the web site at save my bug (makers of the thing) states that the "butterfly push-on connector`allows you to keep the pressure sensor functionality and add the heat sensor.


http://www.savemybug.com/type4.htm
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-Ob. vehicle info....
1973 Westy w/ '74 1.8 liter / PDSI (type3?) carbs / 009 distributor / pertronix

[Togz]

wow that's a game changer. How can you tell the difference between the two different dilemma's (pressure or temp) if it essentially utilizes the same signal?
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[a-marshal]

[Togz]

Shit, so I got the actual temp activated dip stick. Easy enough to install except now I know it runs hot as it doesnt take much more than driving 30 minutes down hill or 20 minutes up hill (I live kind of on a grade) to activate it. So it is running hot. I wouldn't say it gets insanely damagingly hot (at least not in the hour or so intervals I've run it) but it is hotter than feels good with. I now see the total importance of installing VDO gauges for both pressure and temp but will probably be on the winter list of mods. I think I'll adjust the valves next and switch out the oil. I had a mechanic do the oil at the start of the year, I found the receipt and it was standard 10w 30 so I think that getting 15w40 Rotella synthetic would help?

any other advice? I get a mixed bag of people that say there isnt anything really wrong with it, its just that the 220/230 range is a little idealistic and that it will run hotter than that in the summer but as long as it doesnt flirt with 300, its liveable. I dont want to ignore a bigger issue but also dont want to pull it out of the rotation entirely until the end of the season if I can help it.

Thanks for the help. Oh and by the way, because of the meat thermometer I now can actually cook pork chops!
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[vwible]

What kind of oil are you running?
If you're running 20-50, try dropping back to 10-30 or 10-40.
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1970 Tin Top Walk Through Bus

[Wildthings]

Use an IR gun on the block a minute or so after shutdown and see what it reads.

FWIW, my testing showed that a straight 30wt ran cooler than any other oil I tested, so I have gone back to running 30wt (Cenex Superlube) in my VW Thing for now. On the drive home from town with a 800' vertical climb I just see oil temps in the 160*F range.

[Togz]

so wait straight weight 30 or 10w30/40 runs much cooler than 20w50 or 15w40?

I originally asked for 20w50 because that seemed to be what everyone recommended but the receipt or invoice shows 10w30 - which may have been because the shop doesnt do that much of it, might not have been a choice in the system for that?

In short, if I think it is running hot - what is the best oil to use?

Also, I dont have an IR gun but I do have again my meat thermo - can I just touch the probe to the top of the block to get an idea there. If I do, what temp is like cool vs "ohhhh fuck"?

Thanks alot guys!
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[Togz]

You think after wading through that Moby Dick sized oil thread I would picked something up but I thought the higher the weight number (or post w number)/, the cooler it would run? And that using synthetic was clutch because it has a higher failure temp than dino oil. Not trying to reinvent the wheel on that thread but if one were to be work an already hot engine, its worth trading into the 15 w 45 for sae30?
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The bus came by and I got on
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[Togz]

You think after wading through that Moby Dick sized oil thread I would picked something up but I thought the higher the weight number (or post w number)/, the cooler it would run? And that using synthetic was clutch because it has a higher failure temp than dino oil. Not trying to reinvent the wheel on that thread but if one were to be work an already hot engine, its worth trading into the 15 w 45 for sae30?
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[Randy in Maine]

The short answer is that a VW thinks that thick oil is cold oil and by passes the oil cooler.

Thin is in. I like a nice thin synthetic like 15-50 Mobil 1 or 10-30 dino oil or something.

[busdaddy]

Yep, good quality oil of the thinnest viscosity that keeps the oil light from coming on steady when idling after a freeway run is your best choice, especially if you have hydro lifters.
Thick oil runs hotter in a VW, that goes against how most other engines behave but it's the way thier simple oiling system works and when the cooler comes into play.

As for oil temps 250 is about the maximum you want to see for extended periods, higher than that and the oil starts to lose it's mojo.
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[Wildthings]

[Gib_Gas]

Also with 20w50 in there you wont be able to crank the engine well in the winter.
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1979 Deluxe Westfalia 2.0 FI

[Togz]

Ok, so I went with the straight 30. The reaction from the lady at the store when I exchanged the Rotella 15-40 for it was noteworthy... "so you are going from a diesel oil to thiiiis?, I will never get you Volkswagen people..."

Ha. Once I run it for a bit I will report back.
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The bus came by and I got on
That's when it all began...

[airschooled]

[Wildthings]