Hi Dennis - No I am running with a manual transmission in my Syncro Westy.
Tires are within range 205/70/15.  Perhaps the rpm to speed comparison has
to do with the 1.35 rocker arms?  I am guessing the automatic will run
slightly faster than a manual at the same rpm?

The stage 2 fan speed kicked on a couple of times during City driving -
bumper to bumper.  Oil temp seemed to stay pretty much at the same setting
around the 220 mark during those occurrences.  Oil temp seemed to rise
really when climbing hills - slowing down (less cooling air) and running
higher rpm 3800 to 4000 to climb the hill.  Once I could speed up again and
get more air then the oil temp would drop down again by about 5 degrees.
Van seems happiest / coolest at 100 km/h or 62 mph.

I am thinking about installing an after market oil cooler possibly for next
year. It has all been a bit of an evolution - first step was to install the
oil temp and pressure gauges to get a baseline and see how things were
performing…now I sort of know that I am running closer to the hotter side
of the range and this is in a warm but not super hot and dry climate.  I
have to thank the list because I wouldn’t have considered additional
instrumentation to check oil temp.  It was something I became interested in
after following a number of relatable posts.

I will have to consider - what you are noting about the fridge relay and
setting that up as a fail safe.

Bruce

On Saturday, July 31, 2021, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> You oil temp and pressure readings are normal. I'm guessing based on RPM
> vs. Speed you have an automatic. If so consider an ATF temperature gauge
> especially for longer trips, higher speeds, and hill climbs.
> The 220-230 readings while not alarming do indicate that you at the edge
> of what the cooling system can handle. Ideally with the OEM oil cooler the
> oil temp should follow the coolant temp. Anything above 200F you are
> putting in more heat than the system can take out. Try driving 75+ and see
> if it can still maintain control. For those of us with AC that is also good
> for another 10-15 degrees.
>
> For the fridge when I do dual battery installs I maintain the fridge relay
> operation for the fridge so it auto turns off with the engine. The original
> design also turns it off during an alternator fail. Since many add shore
> power or solar charging I usually use some form voltage sensing automatic
> battery combiner for charging control.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Bruce
> Todd
> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2021 10:39 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Trip Report
>
> Just returned from our short 6 night trip to Pender  Island and Vancouver
> Island.  Couldn’t ask for better weather - sunny and warm throughout and
> quite dry - as noted earlier no dew or morning dampness.  Van ran strong -
> no coolant loss - oil pretty much at same level as when we left - mind you
> we only put on about 400 km.
>
> Okay for the gaugers out there - today fully warm on flat stretch of
> highway 110 km / 68.4 mph at 4000 rpm - oil at around 230 Fahrenheit and
> oil pressure at 39 psi. Coolant temp showing below the light.
>
> Oil temp gauge typically runs around 220 - either a bit above or below -
> as it is analog it is hard to know exactly what it is reading.
>
> Only negative is that I forgot to switch the fridge off battery when
> stopping for over an hour and drained the auxiliary.  Should figure out an
> alarm for that or something.
>
> The old Dometic on gas still worked like a charm though.
>
> Lake Cowichan is a very nice destination - great temp for swimming, lots
> of shade if you need to duck out of the sun - and not very busy when it
> comes to boat traffic.
>
> We will be back!
>
> BT
>