Re[2]: How Hot is Too Hot?

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm2.hf.intel.com>]

I have the GB books, too, and the material is pretty good (though I wish 
they would've used a professional technical writer) but it is somewhat 
dated in parts and really needs an update.  I have a hard time believing 
that today's quality gauges, like VDO (whose gauges are found in many 
European vehicles) and AutoMeter, would be so unreliable.  One reason I say 
this is because FI uses various temperature sensors for its computations 
and they need to be pretty accurate.  Granted, many only work through a 
limited range that's designed to vary resistance only for very cold or very 
hot temps (Jim A., could you elaborate on this?).

I installed a mechanical oven temperature gauge (like what you'd put in an 
oven to check the temp of the roast you're cooking) at the air output on 
the left side of the engine (where all the hot #3 & #4 air exits from) this 
past fall to see what the temps get up to.  Though I didn't hit any 90+ F 
degrees days so far the highest temp I have observed is 275 F degrees and 
that was on a 80 F degree day after 30 minutes in stop and go traffic (and 
yes, my ragtop was all the way back :).

Your nose is an excellent sensor.  If you know the smell of a hot engine 
then you should check your engine cooling system!  Make sure the cooling 
flap system works, you have minimal air leaks in the fan housing/air 
hoses/heat exchangers and all of the cooling tin is attached/bolted 
together properly.  Also check your oil -- it keeps your baby cool, too!  I 
know my nose has never failed me in the past for smelling my engine when it 
became too hot (hey, look at the size of that oil puddle some fool 
left...uh, wait a minute...NOOOooo!)
     Toby Erkson
     air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     '72 VW Squareback 1.6L modified to 2.0L
     '75 Porsche 914 stock 1.8L


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re:How Hot is Too Hot?
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    2/4/97 11:52 AM


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.

-Wilson
69' FI Squareback named "Dolly"