just wondering what is the usual running temp of a kombi 2lt kombi motor. is it up around 100 degrees or is that to high

the one i run in chaos ran about 100 at 100km/h but at 110 at 110 so its not to high, as my old man told me to start worrying when it hit like 140 degrees. btw this is in a bug with an upright conversion

with the current weather we are having 100 deg is getting up there, .is it 100 @100 kph or 100 round town either way 100 is pretty warm my last kombi i rebuilt ran 80 and 85 on the hottest day on the highway at 100. time to start checking all the cooling system theres lots of places for it too leak

Remember that senders and guages aren't always accurate: if it says 100 it could be 80 or 120. The important thing is CONSISTENCY. If your bus usually runs happily within a certain range then it's all good. If it suddenly creeps up beyond the usual range then stop and let it cool down!

NOTE: it is possible to check the calibration of your sender & guage by putting the sender in water that is boiling rapidly (easiest if it's a dipstick sender) and checking if the guage reads 100. It is important to do this with the sender and guage and all wiring AS IT NORMALLY IS IN THE BUS because tiny differences in setup (e.g. a different wire length or thickness) can make big differences to the calibration.

Oh yeah, one other thing... the quick and easy test is this: if you can hold the top end of your dipstick without it feeling uncomfotably hot then your engine is running at an OK temp

[Edited on 24/5/2005 by Purple Martin]

If it's running hot you can get air scoops for the side air intakes that significantly reduce the engine temp. On ebay there called something like 'white fibreglass air intakes'. They just scoop out the side a bit more and I reckon my kombi is now running a fair bit smoother with them. Takes a little longer to warm up to nice operating temp but never gets really hot anymore even through hilly driving. Also my theory is it gets more fresh cold air to the carbs which is a very good thing(any thoughts on that?).
Cheers,
Dustin

100 degrees at 100km/ on the f3 in a bug is fine but i might check the accuracy of the sender and gauge next time i think of it. mine is fine does anyone here happen to know off the top of their head the correct operating temp for a t4 motor. cause i think it was about 100 degrees but i checked it like 3 years ago.

Just rebuilt my bus and payed very close attention to cooling system, bought heaps of new seals and everything (except the ones we cant track down). Running temp is about 90-100 degrees around town. With regard to those air scoops, you are better off spending the money on rubber seals and stuff, making sure that no hot air is reused and keep the kombi looking good! If you put those scoops on its not going to force more air over the engine, thats all upto the fan. when my bus is idling if i put my hands over the vents i can feel air rushing in, no need for ugly scoops!!

those scoops do a lot took 10 deg off my motor

it has already the air scoops and well it seems to be running fine at 95. it has just devolped another oil leak in the push rod tube so it is smoking a bit as the oil is dripping onto the exhaust.

pushrod tube leaks are an easy fix, get on top of the oil leaks before your engine builds up a layer of oily dirt which will insulate the heat. Hotter engine could leak to other seals cooking and becoming ineffective. Just take off the rocker cover, remove the retaining wire and pull the tube out.you may need to take off the rocker assembly... i cant remember, thats a 1min job. good luck

I've got good seals through most of the engine, especially the main engine bay seal. The air scoops still bring alot more air in for the fan to push around and it does run noticeably cooler from the extended air scoops.
Cheers
Dustin.
P.S I do admit they are a bit ugly though, but the rest of the bus is beautiful it don't bother me!

[Edited on 26-5-2005 by dusto81]