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DS1980
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2017
Posts: 80
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:12 am Post subject: Overheating on highway |
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Hello Vanagononians,
I took the 1990 2.1L out for the first longish trip of my ownership and noticed that the oil temp gets hot on the highway but the coolant temp reads low. Around town it does just fine. The first 2 photos are of town driving and the last 2 are on the highway. Does the low coolant temp suggest air in the system?
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2954
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:38 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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No to air in system causing low temps, it creates hot pockets not cold temps.
Could be a gauge issue try verifying with an IR gun if you have access to one. The fact that it's consistent indicates the gauge reading is just off to me.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4694
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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I was baffled by my Temp needle for a while. Yours looks on the low side? Mine had been fine through the fall or '16, but when I got it our of the garage in Spring of '17 it started going lower. I have an additional water temp monitoring system, so I knew it wasn't dangerous, however I did need to figure out why the needle was lower and lower for whatever reason -- like wire fault, or ? Hence, I did the 100 ohm resistor method, and found the needle gauge was functioning as expected. In my case, it was the temp sensor itself. Good dose of coolant in the eyeballs if you fail basic shop class rules -- eye protection. I use a full face shield. Still a good dousing of coolant on my shirt, but the needle has displayed correctly since then.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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dougass
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2016
Posts: 300
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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What oil are you running?
Any additives or Lucas?
_________________
'91 GL - 2.1 automatic named Klaus for weekend adventures.
#klausvan & @thisisklausvan |
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DS1980
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2017
Posts: 80
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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I replaced the coolant temp sensor, but no difference.
I have no idea what oil is in it. I havn't had the van long enough to do an oil change. No additives that I'm aware. Does the 2.1L respond well to a certain oil and additive? |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8719
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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Unless you're at idle, your oil pressure is quite low.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2954
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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Here's the "title only" search results for temperature gauge.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc...=titleonly
The very last thread on the page has some great directions for testing the gauge and sender put up by 10cent; if you're new to the forum, his directions are almost always clear, concise, and complete. Between that and the rest of the results on the page, you should be able to figure out if it's the gauge/sender or something else.
20w50 for most conditions is recommended oil weight.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual
Last edited by mikemtnbike on Mon Jun 18, 2018 12:24 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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calo1956
Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2011
Posts: 712
Location: long Island new york
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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Funny thing, I know I'm air cooled and your water cooled, but i get the exact opposite, on the highway, my oil temp is 200, sometimes a little below, if its cooler out, but once i get off the highway, it will get up to 220. Yesterday was in the 80's and in traffic it went to 230, but soon as i got going again it dropped to 220. Just some info for fellow Vanagon drivers
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Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia |
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dougass
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2016
Posts: 300
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| DS1980 wrote: |
| I have no idea what oil is in it. I havn't had the van long enough to do an oil change. No additives that I'm aware. Does the 2.1L respond well to a certain oil and additive? |
Time to get up to date on maintenance, use fluid type and capacity out of the book; use synthetic engine oil. Before you get into the fun stuff, go through the van to get it safe and mechanically sound. Don't assume maintenance was done properly in the past.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798
_________________
'91 GL - 2.1 automatic named Klaus for weekend adventures.
#klausvan & @thisisklausvan |
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DS1980
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2017
Posts: 80
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| Thanks for the replies and links to previous threads. I will check them all out. I didn't think my engine produced enough power to overheat. For a while there I thought it just converted gasoline to sound. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17296
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10303
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| E1 wrote: |
| Unless you're at idle, your oil pressure is quite low. |
X2 - If that second set of pics is showing 20 psi oil pressure at 3600 RPM that is something you may want to confirm and understand. |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6933
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| E1 wrote: |
| Unless you're at idle, your oil pressure is quite low. |
X2 - If that second set of pics is showing 20 psi oil pressure at 3600 RPM that is something you may want to confirm and understand. |
When was your last oil change and what oil did you put in?
I'd be checking the oil pressure relief spring for a start- measure the length of the spring and the cleanliness of the hole to ensure there is no crud causing the valve body getting stuck in the open position.
It should be seating fully in the hole.
If the spring is shorter from age and wear you could try placing a 1/4" washer under the bottom of the spring to boost the spring tension a bit. This might get you another 5psi of oil pressure.
What is going to help the most I feel is cooling your oil down to help keep it's viscosity.
Vanistan.com sells a very well put together kit for cooling your oil. Now the new website url is:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52686
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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If your oil cooler still there? The cooler fits between the oil filter and the block. I removed mine as it is a known failure point. The gasket between the cooler and block failed on almost 100% of factory engines and the smallish cooling elbows failed on many. I just run synthetic oil and don't worry about the temps as the 1.9L engines with no oil cooler had no more lubrication problems than the 2.1L did.
If an IR guns shows that your gauge is reading correctly, then replace your thermostat. Do some reading on thermostat quality first though. |
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dougass
Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2016
Posts: 300
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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The oil pressure is low because the oil temp is so high.
Maybe someone thought 5W-20 oil was the right thing to use (which is not). There could be all sorts of scary reasons for why it's happening or what is wrong, no reason to assume the worst before you do BASIC maintenance to your new whip. Add coolant flush and replacement thermostat to your list...
_________________
'91 GL - 2.1 automatic named Klaus for weekend adventures.
#klausvan & @thisisklausvan |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52686
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:38 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| There are two temperature senders on the thermostat housing, one for the FI and one for the gauge. Helps to check/replace the correct one. What was the color of the one you replaced? |
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DS1980
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2017
Posts: 80
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| It was the coolant sensor. When I pulled it out coolant spilled out so....I really hope it was the coolant sensor. If not I have real problems. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52686
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:16 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| DS1980 wrote: |
| It was the coolant sensor. When I pulled it out coolant spilled out so....I really hope it was the coolant sensor. If not I have real problems. |
They are both coolant sensors, change the wrong one and you will have accomplished nothing. |
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DS1980
Samba Member
Joined: December 03, 2017
Posts: 80
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:19 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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| ah gotcha. I will check. |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2954
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Overheating on highway |
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OP has another thread about his radiator fan cycling on/off etc. If the fan is cycling on/off but the gauge remains so low reading, am I right or wrong that that may be further indication of something wrong in the gauge/sensor system?
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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