oil temp @ 220 ok?

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 12:39 pm

I have a vdo dipstick sender with the gauge mounted on my dash , it takes about 10 minutes of highway driving from cold to reach this temp and them the temp seems to stay around here whether in traffic or on the highway it may drop a bit at 100kph but basically stays around 220

Sidewalk · Post by **Sidewalk** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 1:20 pm

I wouldn't wory about it if it doesn't go over that. I don't think I would want to go much over 230.

------------------
'88 Bronco II - Sonja
'59 Bug - Stella
'00 Buell X1 - Liz
"Yes, I am a smart ass."
"I'm a DUMBASS too"

But are you gutless?

germansupplyscott · Post by **germansupplyscott** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 3:26 pm

bert,

220 is o.k., but i would like to see it a bit lower if the engine is not under a heavy load. the highest you ever want to see is about 235, and that is pulling up a big mountain pass. it should never stay above 230 for any length of time or you have problems.

the dipstick senders are not the best for a type IV engine:
http://www.bus-boys.com/bbvdo.htm#tempoil

to a certain point, gauge readings are subjective, providing a relative reading. you watch it over time, form an idea of the baseline, then they warn you if you deviate much from the baseline.

before getting really worried about your 220 reading i'd take a good pull up the longest, steepest grade you can find, and see where the gauge goes. go up a hill that needs third gear, or even second!

i suggested a cylinder head temp gauge in an earlier thread, if you combine this with the oil temp gauge, you have a good way to monitor your engine on the trip.

scott lyons

4SPEED · Post by **4SPEED** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 5:30 pm

You have to take into consideration, the outside temperature. If the temp outside is 50 degrees and youre running at 220, you either have a problem or you might be missing some cooling tins. I run a 1600 in a 1967 bus with a 4.12 tranny and tall tires and my temps go to 240 on the expressway but I live in Florida where the outside temp is usually about 90 degrees.

Patrick www.wide5.com www.vwaddicts.com

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 11:37 pm

I've got a VDO oil temp gauge it seems to hold steady at @ 220 after warming up , is this an OK temp to be running at? or is there potentially something wrong . Thanks again guys

germansupplyscott · Post by **germansupplyscott** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 11:56 pm

bert,

please explain this in a bit more detail, like how long does it take to reach 220. is it 220 cruising at 100kph, or at idle in traffic. also, where is the sender.

scott lyons

papun5880pr · Post by **papun5880pr** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 10:05 am

for my 2270 power stroker type 4-b from JAKE i went to the internet and got an old NOS oil stick sender for a 914 porsce and the oil and reliability are excelent.look for oil temp senders or in vw search and good luck.my engine is allways at 180 degrees F on PUERTRO RICO with VALVOLINE W50 racing oil and external oil cooler.

Lavabo · Post by **Lavabo** » Wed Jun 19, 2002 12:35 pm

914 dispstick sender!! nice

Is there a store selling those or we must find them used or NOS on ebay ?

[email protected] · Post by **[email protected]** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 12:41 pm

please realize guys that those temp senders are not that acurate. I always use the dipstick method ( after 15 minutes of driving, if I cant touch the dipstick at all, it's overheating, If you can pass it back and forth between your left and right hand without getting burned, it's just right. If you can grab it and hold it and it dosent burn you, you are running too cool) once that is done, use the temp sender and guage, just remember where it is after 15 minutes. That is your normal operating temp. the guages really cant tell you exactly what the temp is, so just remember where the normal operating temp is, and if it goes much past that, somthing needs looked at.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 1:30 pm

On that same note I generally go by if I can hold the dipstick handle for 3 seconds.

Only once was I cruizing at 220F and the dipstick test confirmed it really was this hot when I stopped for gas. Interstate cruizing with too low of oil viscosity.

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

germansupplyscott · Post by **germansupplyscott** » Thu Jun 20, 2002 2:14 pm

i don't understand.

someone says that gauges are inaccurate then suggests holding the dipstick to get an accurate reading of oil temperature! a properly installed gauge can be pretty accurate. i have noticed that because of the fan location, the dipstick method is poor on a type IV. there is a lot of air flow near the dipstick on a type IV. the dipstick on my van is never close to being too hot to hold.

a properly installed gauge in the sump plate, with good wiring will yield excellent accuaracy. it is important to give the gauge a dedicated ground of 14ga wire.

a gauge is also, as a previous poster noted, a subjective thing. it alerts you when it deviates from the norm.

i will also add that a cylinder head temp and oil pressure gauge, together with the oil temp, if you have all three, will provide almost fool-proof reading of the operating conditions of the engine.

scott lyons

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 7:25 am

Oops, yah you T4 guys cannot use the dipstick test.

Finally one advantage for the T1!

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Sidewalk · Post by **Sidewalk** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 9:54 am

An oil temp gauge has another advantage over the dipstick.

When was the last time you pulled out your dipstick doing 80 MPH down the road?

------------------
'88 Bronco II - Sonja
'59 Bug - Stella
'00 Buell X1 - Liz
"Yes, I am a smart ass."
"I'm a DUMBASS too"

But are you gutless?

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 10:06 am

True, but oil cools much more slowly than people realize. If you drop off the highway and open the hood the temp difference will be neglible.

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri Jun 21, 2002 1:08 pm

Very true SideWalk. In my opinion the addition of a temp gauge in a bus is critical.

Forget the chrome, or radio, or... Just put in a temp gauge ASAP.

Busses generally run hotter than people think and most inexperienced VW drivers drive the busses waaaay to hard.

Normally my bus will not hit 200F, but if it does I vary my speeds to keep the oil at this stable temperature.... Some will argue that 210-230 is okay, but to me it is a little much. 240F being the absolute drop dead max temp you should run.

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"