Re:How Hot is Too Hot?

[Nicole Gray <nicole.gray@yale.edu>]

On Tue, 4 Feb 1997, Larry Edson wrote:

> At 11:52 AM 2/4/97 -0500, MNWebb@aol.com wrote:
> >Hi -
> >
> >In the area of temp. gauges and the engine. I seem to recall reading an
> >excellent Gene Berg technical report that most temp. gauges are highly
> >unreliable. He went on to say that the only good ones are those in the
> >high-end (like $300+) range. Any-one else read something similar? I too am
> >worried about overheating because sometimes my engine smells quite hot.
> >
> Gene's report made a number of good points, all aimed at getting us to buy
> his products.  Don't get me wrong.  I believe Gene Berg Enterprises makes
> very good products and I have followed his advice a number of times.  I have
> his oil temperature sensors in all of my cars.  The first one was in a '71
> camper that I have since sold.  Before I found out about the Gene Berg
> dipstick I had previously put in a VDO gauge.  I did not ever fully trust it
> because the temperature always measured at least 225 and topped out the
> gauge at 260 several times.  
> 
> The dipstick gauge was the result of tests the Bergs made on currently
> available sensors mounted in different areas of the engine.  Where you put
> the sensor makes a difference with the temperature reading.  The story, as I
> heard it from Gene when he came up to San Jose to talk to our local club a
> few years ago, is that his wife likes to bake and suggested that a candy
> thermometer has to be very accurate to prevent burning.  So they rigged up a
> candy thermometer sensor to a dipstick and wired it into the oil light on
> your dash.  When your oil approaches 225 the oil light will start to flicker
> and will come on solid above that point.  Gene felt that 225 degrees at the
> sump is a good upper limit for what you want to run at.
> 
> Making this work in a Type 3 required a different approach though.  I'm not
> 100% satisfied with Gene's solution but it hasn't let me down yet.  It saved
> me once when I was out in the desert and I lost one of the elbows going to
> the heat exchanger.  The sensor is on a little stubby end which attaches to
> a block off plate that replaces the standard dipstick and tube.  So how do
> you measure the oil level and how do you add oil?  I let my oil light decide
> if I am low on oil -- as long as the light stays off my motor is happy.
> When I do an oil change I put the oil in the oil breather by prying off the
> plastic cap and taking out the brillo pad -- or whatever that is in there.
> 
> 
> ---Larry Edson, Editor
>    Karmann Ghia Club of North America
>    Campbell, CA
>    '65 Type 345 (electric sunroof)
>    '66 Type 343
>    '67 Bug (sunroof)
>    '49 Ford pickup
> 
I assume both of these sensors are available from Gene Berg Enterprises.
Can you give me an idea how expensive they are?  My bus and square could
benefit.

Rich Mason
69 Square
71 Bus