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jamin12369 Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2018 Posts: 61 Location: LUFKIN,TX
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 5:41 am Post subject: Is high idle bad? |
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I have my idle set at ~1000rpm, With A/C on it drops to ~800. Is there any reason I should readjust for cooler weather when not using A/C? |
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theKbStockpiler Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2012 Posts: 2316 Location: Rust Belt
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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A high idle is annoying is it not? It's definitely wasteful on fuel. Factory cars with carbs came with a solenoid to raise the idle when the A/C was used so I would do the same. _________________ My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask. |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31360 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:26 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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jamin12369 wrote: |
I have my idle set at ~1000rpm, With A/C on it drops to ~800. Is there any reason I should readjust for cooler weather when not using A/C? |
1. I never re-set the idle for "winter" on my 1970 VW that had dealer-added AC. But I live in Arizona and our winter is very short, like from 1 day to 2 months, the remainder being summer.
2. I also have a 1988 Mazda truck with aftermarket Weber carb and AC. I leave its idle at about 950 rpm year round, as there's no idle up with that aftermarket carb (there was one on the uber-comlicated factory carb though). _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5363 Location: Lefty, CA
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modok Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 26776 Location: Colorado Springs
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:21 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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It's bad for fuel economy, but good for the engine. |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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Most idle settings were based in emissions regulatory la la land. Hot oil pressure increases with more cooling air at a fast idle soooo.... _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:00 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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Multi69s wrote: |
bluebus86 wrote: |
more wear on motor and transmission,, more fuel consumption adjust it correctly.
Bug On! |
I don't see any way that it would add wear to the transmission. I also doubt that it would add wear to the engine as well. In fact I believe that in some engines, it might even be beneficial. Faster ideal = more oil flow through the engine. If it runs good and doesn't bother you, I'd leave it alone. |
High idle will cause more wear on the synchronizer mechanism, particularly in first gear. You have stationary parts and spinning parts come together, and when the speed difference is higher, more wear occurs.
I had a defect on my Bug that caused high idle, it made shifting difficult. Got it fixed.
Bug On! _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16757 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:29 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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If you had your idle at 1500, then yeah, that excessive. 1000 is just a little higher than factory. I set a lot of cars at 900-950. _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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Aside from the shifting issue which isn’t an issue if your clutch release system is 100%, a high idle can be frustrating when using any distributor with advance weights. (Aka anything except for an SVA/SVSA “vacuum only” distributor.) Mechanical advance weights can give you early advance with a slightly high RPM and truck your engine into a positive feedback loop of faster idle speeds.
Regardless of your chosen idle, it should be enough to give you 4psi of idle oil pressure MINIMUM on a worn out engine. Newer engines should show more due to tighter clearances. Most tachometers are only accurate +/- 100 RPM anyway, and at that point a high-end tach would be money down the drain compared to a nice road trip before you indict and engine for a rebuild.
Robbie _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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asiab3 wrote: |
Aside from the shifting issue which isn’t an issue if your clutch release system is 100%, a high idle can be frustrating when using any distributor with advance weights. (Aka anything except for an SVA/SVSA “vacuum only” distributor.) Mechanical advance weights can give you early advance with a slightly high RPM and truck your engine into a positive feedback loop of faster idle speeds.
Regardless of your chosen idle, it should be enough to give you 4psi of idle oil pressure MINIMUM on a worn out engine. Newer engines should show more due to tighter clearances. Most tachometers are only accurate +/- 100 RPM anyway, and at that point a high-end tach would be money down the drain compared to a nice road trip before you indict and engine for a rebuild.
Robbie |
Even with a decent clutch, the issue remains of shifting at higher speed..
Bug On! _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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bluebus86 wrote: |
Even with a decent clutch, the issue remains of shifting at higher speed..
Bug On! |
You shift at a higher speed in every other gear once your moving. I think 950rpm has always sounded best to me. It’s also. I’ve to have a higher idle when you get off the highway after a longer run and you come to a stoplight or such. |
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Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5363 Location: Lefty, CA
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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bluebus86 wrote: |
Even with a decent clutch, the issue remains of shifting at higher speed..
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I don't get what you are trying to say. Unless your clutch is dragging, a couple hundred RPMs is not going to hurt the syncros. Also, while driving, and shifting gears, we don't allow the engine to drop down to idle speeds, because then you have fallen out of the torque curve of the engine. Then you end up with lugging and bucking which IS hard on the engine. if you were talking about a crash box (non-synchromesh transmission), then engine speed in relation to vehicle movement is critical (like driving home with a broken clutch cable). Aside from that, the transmission doesn't care about a couple of hundred +/- RPMs. _________________ 69 road Bug 2110
73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
Gone but not forgotten 72 Baja Bug 2010
My builds
T4 into Squareback http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458944&highlight=
Auto Trans Rebuild http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516066&highlight=
AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight= |
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kangaboy Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2010 Posts: 1063 Location: St. Louis, Mo
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2018 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Is high idle bad? |
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Multi69s wrote: |
bluebus86 wrote: |
Even with a decent clutch, the issue remains of shifting at higher speed..
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I don't get what you are trying to say. Unless your clutch is dragging, a couple hundred RPMs is not going to hurt the syncros. Also, while driving, and shifting gears, we don't allow the engine to drop down to idle speeds, because then you have fallen out of the torque curve of the engine. Then you end up with lugging and bucking which IS hard on the engine. if you were talking about a crash box (non-synchromesh transmission), then engine speed in relation to vehicle movement is critical (like driving home with a broken clutch cable). Aside from that, the transmission doesn't care about a couple of hundred +/- RPMs. |
I agree. Plus a couple hundred RPM isn't going to cause that much wear on anything. I like my idle above 1000 to give better oiling as was stated several times above. I also have a crank trigger so I can idle wherever I want. People with distributors may have a little more trouble with the collateral changes involved (i.e. advancing too soon) _________________ -74 Standard - "CaliBug" 2084T, MS3X w/FI and Crank Fire
-76 Westy - "Gandalf"
-18 GTI SE
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
that fucking thing looks like it drove through a J.C. Whitney catalogue and hit everything on the way out |
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