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jpbmx
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 52
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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 Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:15 pm Post subject: running hot |
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i know there are plenty of topics regarding running hot - but looking for insight on my particular 1600dp. I just got my car running after not for 2 years or so and today was the first hotter day i’ve driven it. i was driving about 50 miles in mid 70s weather and smelled the engine starting to run hot and by the very end of the drive, my oil light flickers once or twice and was curious as to why. the car is timed to 30BTDC at 3500 or so rpm (034 svda paired with solex 34pict3). i also have all of my tin in place, as well as engine seals (but i am missing the tin that sits below the pushrod tubes, but only on the passenger side. working to get it replaced). besides that i’m not sure why it would be overheating. and all valves were just set to .006 the other day all around. the car has seemed to always run a little hot, and the last summer i drove it, it ran even a little warm when i had the deck lid removed. i think the engines a bit tired (still cruise at 65 all day) but noticed i have a little weak of power especially in 3rd gear so i just think it’s tired. anybody have any ideas or suggestions? thanks in advance
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7452
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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Is that 30° BTDC with the vacuum disconnected and plugged or with it connected?
Have you read your plugs to see if you're running lean?
Was the oil light flickering at idle or while driving?
Do you have a temperature gauge or other means of measuring how hot it's actually getting?
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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jpbmx
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 52
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| mukluk wrote: |
Is that 30° BTDC with the vacuum disconnected and plugged or with it connected?
Have you read your plugs to see if you're running lean?
Was the oil light flickering at idle or while driving?
Do you have a temperature gauge or other means of measuring how hot it's actually getting? |
that’s 30 with vacuum disconnected and plugged - sorry i forgot to clarify that. and i’ll check my plugs today- i think i maybe running a bit rich if anything based on smell (typically run a little rich since i’m at 5500ft above sealevel). and the light flickered only at idle, never while driving. i don’t have a temp gauge- always just do the poor mans dipstick touch  |
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7452
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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A slight flicker from the oil light at idle right after a high speed run isn't really anything to worry about provided it immediately extinguishes when you tap the throttle.
The inability to touch the dipstick isn't a good measure of the engine running hot, no matter how often that method seems to pop up. Keep in mind you want your oil to get up to at least 190°F while the car is driven to evaporate any condensation out, and oil temps up through 220°F are still considered perfectly fine. Based on this, wouldn't it make sense that the dipstick is going to be too hot to touch for any amount of time when it's going to be up near the temperature of boiling water? I would highly recommend at least picking up a long meat thermometer that can be slid down the dipstick tube so you can use that to get a better idea of true oil temps.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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sjbartnik
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011
Posts: 6041
Location: Brooklyn
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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Put your decklid on and try again.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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jpbmx
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 52
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| sjbartnik wrote: |
| Put your decklid on and try again. |
my decklid is on - this is just a photo from once i got the engine back in |
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jpbmx
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 52
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| mukluk wrote: |
A slight flicker from the oil light at idle right after a high speed run isn't really anything to worry about provided it immediately extinguishes when you tap the throttle.
The inability to touch the dipstick isn't a good measure of the engine running hot, no matter how often that method seems to pop up. Keep in mind you want your oil to get up to at least 190°F while the car is driven to evaporate any condensation out, and oil temps up through 220°F are still considered perfectly fine. Based on this, wouldn't it make sense that the dipstick is going to be too hot to touch for any amount of time when it's going to be up near the temperature of boiling water? I would highly recommend at least picking up a long meat thermometer that can be slid down the dipstick tube so you can use that to get a better idea of true oil temps. |
yeah ill look into that - i know the dipstick method isnt great and can be very subjective, but its just all i have access to. any reason why the light flickers at idle? thanks for the input! |
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7452
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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The light may flicker at idle due to thin oil and low pressure to be expected after a long high speed drive, see the excerpt from the owner's manual below. This is more likely to happen if you have an aftermarket oil pressure switch as many tend to cause the light to come on at a higher pressure than originals.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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jpbmx
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2015
Posts: 52
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| mukluk wrote: |
The light may flicker at idle due to thin oil and low pressure to be expected after a long high speed drive, see the excerpt from the owner's manual below. This is more likely to happen if you have an aftermarket oil pressure switch as many tend to cause the light to come on at a higher pressure than originals.
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oh interesting thank you for that information thats good to know! i run rotella 15w-40 oil so im surprised it thins out so much  |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 13627
Location: West Coast, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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If your car has heat exchangers, now would be the time to hook up the heater hoses.
Robbie
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One-on-one tech help for your vintage Volkswagen:
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Road trip reports and tech blog:
https://www.patreon.com/airschooled |
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Pruneman99
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Joined: February 22, 2012
Posts: 5013
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| asiab3 wrote: |
If your car has heat exchangers, now would be the time to hook up the heater hoses.
Robbie |
I think blowing air through OG heavy heat exchangers act as a great heat sink. I don't have any measurements to back this up. Just a hunch. Actually I don't have any gauges other than what came stock. Less to worry about |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 13627
Location: West Coast, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| Pruneman99 wrote: |
| asiab3 wrote: |
If your car has heat exchangers, now would be the time to hook up the heater hoses.
Robbie |
I think blowing air through OG heavy heat exchangers act as a great heat sink. I don't have any measurements to back this up. Just a hunch. Actually I don't have any gauges other than what came stock. Less to worry about |
The only time smoke has ever come out from my car was when I drove the New Jersey Turnpike with one of my heater hoses disconnected. The fuel attendant caught it and wouldn’t fill up my car until the smoking stopped.
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One-on-one tech help for your vintage Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com
Road trip reports and tech blog:
https://www.patreon.com/airschooled |
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Pruneman99
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2012
Posts: 5013
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: running hot |
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| asiab3 wrote: |
| Pruneman99 wrote: |
| asiab3 wrote: |
If your car has heat exchangers, now would be the time to hook up the heater hoses.
Robbie |
I think blowing air through OG heavy heat exchangers act as a great heat sink. I don't have any measurements to back this up. Just a hunch. Actually I don't have any gauges other than what came stock. Less to worry about |
The only time smoke has ever come out from my car was when I drove the New Jersey Turnpike with one of my heater hoses disconnected. The fuel attendant caught it and wouldn’t fill up my car until the smoking stopped. |
See, definite probable antidotal evidence to back up our otherwise unproven theory we agree on! How can could someone argue against us?? |
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