Make Air-cooled Engine Compartment Air-tight

daroota

Temps you want should be under 400f.

At 430, is when aluminum starts to warp, and it's especially important on how you bring the temperatures back down again. At 450+ it is critical, slowly bring the temperatures back down otherwise if you bring it down too quickly the engine may definitely Warp. You may cause other damage like blowing out seals, damaging rings, Pistons, recessing valves, or worse.

Typical temperatures are about 290 Fahrenheit to 400. This also brings into the equation just how accurate a cylinder head temperature gauge is as well. O have a vdo that I've had a few years now, it shows me about 48f hotter on the gauge. I used an ir thermometer and check it now and then and idle, warm and hot.
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1982 Westy-Air Cooled, Fuel Injected, 4 Speed Manual
Air Cooled Vanagon's FaceBook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/AirCooledVanagon/

fiftytakedowns

What type of temperature drops could I expect after performing all these sealing tips.

My van doesn't run too hot, but I haven't climbed the mountain yet... Whats the CHT danger zone?
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TEAM USA Greco Roman Wrestling 67KG

www.mogotraining.com

daroota

nunzio82

If I use RTV high temp sealant as another poster suggested will or can it cause any hot spots on my engine? Should I avoid using it in the engine bay?
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1982 Westfalia camper vanagon air-cooled

sandoz · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:15 pm Post subject:

De nada, glad I could give you a visual....

I am also befuddled as to why this part is not reproduced, seems simple enough?!
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1983 Air Cooled Westy (Shaniqua)

a2d2 · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:45 pm Post subject:

sandoz · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:49 pm Post subject:

Pouring rain out and I don't have a picture of one installed.... Hope a couple of pics of one out will do. It isn't easy to install with all the tin in place but it can be done....
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1983 Air Cooled Westy (Shaniqua)

sandoz · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 3:20 pm Post subject:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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1983 Air Cooled Westy (Shaniqua)

Mark70baja · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 11:01 am Post subject: Thanks.

Getting our 82 out and on the road. Hadn't even thought of filling all the holes, of which there are many. It's on the list. Learn something new and vital every time I visit this group. And I'm very happy to see so many Air Cooled posts. Thanks again.
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Try talking yours ideas up, without talking other peoples ideas down. Everyone stays much happier that way.

82 Vanagon with ASI Full Camper Conversion, 2010 Jeep Rubicon

a2d2

ryecatcher · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject:

I just did my seal, which I got from Bus Depot. Not too hard a job, just a bit painstaking at times. A one hour, much-cursing job at most. I combined it with installing new air filter an cleaning off some grounds at the same time.
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1982 Westfalia Camper, Air Cooled
"Wendeline"

reluctantartist · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:46 pm Post subject:

Since summer is well upon us and I see newer airheads on the forum I thought I would bump this up again so we can keep the airheads running happily down the road.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

VWinVT · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject:

I used that pipe insulation. I used the rubber type, not the foam, as the rubber is more pliable and forgiving. It works VERY well to fill the gaps. I have it pressed in place right now. We are in the process of moving. Once we settle, I will use contact cement to secure it to the body, as it will work itself free after about a week of daily driving (makes a great moving van)!!

MarkWard · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 9:43 am Post subject:

This is what I am talking about.

You can see the slit where you could fit it of the sheet metal lip.

ryecatcher · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:25 am Post subject:

Re: Duct tape: fwiw, I've heard not to use duct tape, as it can loosen and get sucked up into the fan which creates an whole mess of problems.
I've waiting on my seal to come in for a month. It seems everyone is out of it or back-ordered...
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1982 Westfalia Camper, Air Cooled
"Wendeline"

MarkWard · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 7:02 am Post subject:

For a temporary seal, you might try swinging by the hardware store. On the race cars we use water heater hose insulation between the shroud and the radiator. It is gray and has a slit with adhesive running down the seam. I bet you could use that and it would fill the gap quiet neatly. Duct tape will leave a glue residue and will not stick to anything that is not perfectly clean. If you use the insulation, post a picture if it works.

Randy in Maine · Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 3:08 pm Post subject:

Nobody cares what the engine compartment temp is.

The only temps you care about are the cylinder head temps...

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=...prd347.htm

and the oil temperature....

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=...prd326.htm

Oil temperature is normally sampled at the "taco plate" as it is easy to do.....

onemat · Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 2:19 pm Post subject:

While I wait for my new seal to come from Bus Depot, I'm going to use duct tape between the old seal and the sides of the engine well. I hate the stuff but it will do for a few weeks. Someone in this thread mentioned a wireless temperature gauge for inside the engine compartment from Autozone. It seems to me that it's not going to give you true engine temperature. Has any figured out roughly what a is a good engine compartment temperature is? Another words, if the compartment is 200 degrees what is the engine temperature? WOuld using this kind of temperature gauge be a waste of my money?

Thanks,

Matt
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'82 Vanagon GL with 2.0 4-speed. Long term plan is to turn it into a camper.

reluctantartist · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:54 am Post subject:

That black and red wire in the picture is for a cylinder head temperature gauge. Do you have one installed on your dash somewhere? If you do then you need to get a new sender that is usually installed under a spark plug.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

daroota

Sorry to revive a old thread, I'm just curious about the wire in this photo of yours. (see below) In the center of the firewall there's a hole in mine above the weather seal, and that red/black connector comes out of it, but mine isn't connected to anything, and I haven't figured out where it goes. (the wire on mine has the connector, and it's a brown ground, and yellow)

Thanks

_________________
1982 Westy-Air Cooled, Fuel Injected, 4 Speed Manual
Air Cooled Vanagon's FaceBook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/AirCooledVanagon/


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Make Air-cooled Engine Compartment Air-tight
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