First real test... too arduous?

[J1]

First "in action" photo since I got her about half a year ago (sorry, really cheap camera phone) and the first real test of her abilities. This may be the first time these hills and canyons near Santa Clarita CA have seen a Ghia since this is about a mile into a gravel road.

I came here to get away from the masses and do a little solo rock climbing (my other obsession). I drove her 70 miles from the LA beaches up to Sepulveda Pass (I-405 freeway) which has an elevation of 1100 feet and through multiple little hills along the way... in 95 degree temps. In retrospect, it could've ended inconveniently given I am still learning her temperament, I was driving alone, far from home, had no jack, and down this gravel road, there was spotty cell service and few other breathing humans.

But keeping her under 60 mph, she performed grandly for the full 140 mile round trip, even on the gravel switchbacks. I don't think she likes getting dusty and having all those sharp pieces of rock going under her tender feet, so this will probably be her last time here.

Anyway, I have a simple question, really. After I came home, I remembered Muir saying that the oil dipstick is a good way to check how the engine is doing. If too hot to hold by hand, the engine is overheating. Well that was the case for this near-original engine.

How true is this? Other than keeping her tuned up and driving gently, is there really anything you can do to minimize overheating in situations like this, going up and down hills, in high temps? Was this trip too arduous for this baby girl? OK, gotta go dust her off now.
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1971 Ghia coupe. Assume I know nothing and you'll be pretty darn close to the truth.

[ccihon]

Nice looking ghia. I personally don't place much stock in the "too hot to touch" thing, because I know using a thermometer a safe operating range for the oil is ambient to 200F or so, and after spirited driving in the heat it can "safely" reach 225 or so. I certainly have toughened hands, but I sure can't hold on to a metal object at those temps. Must be that Muir was a tough guy. Most home hot water is at or below 140F, and most folks don't tolerate that heat for very long.

You might try a stick-style candy thermometer or similar to actually check, and there's another recent thread here discussing what would cause high temps. Basically, all the tins, good airflow from the fan, and free flowing oil.

[c21darrel]

These cars were built to drive, daily. Testing on the prototypes, in the 1930's were in the highest mountains and hottest deserts. As I recall, they did not have cell phones at the time . A small percentage are now daily drivers and you did no harm. Although I am a Muir fan, this little item is a little better than touch.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1428270
Other than valves adjusted and in good tune just be sure ALL your engine sheetmetal is present.
Sounds like a fun adventure!
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GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[J1]

Thanks for the reality check. Feeling better now.

Maybe a more important question then is how does one prevent overheating of your bottomside (ie, your butt) when you're sitting in this kind of heat for extended periods of time?!!

Granted I had been hiking and climbing in the sun but after driving in the heat for a couple hours and arriving home, I stepped out of the car and noticed that my entire rear section of my shorts had gotten completely soaked. I suppose the unbreathable vinyl seats don't help. I think I was having too much fun to even notice!

I'll need to factor that in if I'm driving to a formal gathering where a dry butt is required. Maybe keep an extra pair of shorts along with the spare generator belt and fuses?!
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1971 Ghia coupe. Assume I know nothing and you'll be pretty darn close to the truth.

[Ojai63dbl]

I have an old school version on this in mine to keep my a.. cool - and it actually helps.



http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/kokovesecu.html


now they apparently have an electrical fan version on this site

[VWCOOL]

Under your Ghia sits one of the greatest of-road chassis ever designed... but you should buy a jack!

Touching the dipstick a USELESS way of measuring engine temp.
Would you feel the radiator of a Chev, then nod knowingly and say "Hmmmm... yes, I think it's about the right temperature"..
How about cooking cakes.. would you stick your hand in an oven to check the temperature? No...

[Loren]

The above mentioned Berg dipstick sensor is a good indicator to determine if your engine is running hot. The other option is to buy a VDO temp gauge so you can see "exactly" how hot the engine is running. I use quotes around exactly because most temp gauges don't give completely accurate readings (it depends where you locate the temp sensor), but it will give you a good indicator of how the engine is doing.

[Kmolenda]

I personally use a infrared thermometer on mine, is very accurate, plus gives you temps wherever you point it at, (each cylinder, intake etc) works great and They are pretty reasonable now too.

[kiwighia68]

I'm with Darrell. These cars were made to be driven and in all conditions. Dr Porsche might have had the freezing Northern European winters in mind when he designed this air-cooled car, but they serve just as well in the subtropics and especially well on bad roads. Ask those guys who drove VW's in the Australian Outback or Southern African bush, and you'll hear heaps of stories about VWs going through mud and dirt when others slid off the road or wallowed in the wet.

I just see no reason why you shouldn't go back up the hill every time you feel like it.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015

[J1]

Thanks for the several options for monitoring engine temps (I will def look into those) and the encouragement to have fun with her (though I think I'll keep her off the dusty roads since I'm too lazy for the post-ride cleaning).

And maybe most of all, thanks for the suggestion for my "sitting in a puddle of sweat" problem! That may become one of the most significant "upgrades"
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1971 Ghia coupe. Assume I know nothing and you'll be pretty darn close to the truth.

[VWCOOL]

the common type of dipstick warning units are calibrated too 'cold' to be of any real use on a hotter-than-Chev running VW engine. They are calibrated to cause you to worry at 104C... so the VW performance parts salesman can then sell you an oil cooler "to make your engine run cooler"

Your standard engine is just fine in 30C heat

[Altema]

[Altema]