On 6/4/2013 9:03 PM, Pete O wrote:
> Hi, Skip!
>
> There are far more experienced opinions on this list than mine.
>
> That being said, I would seriously question the accuracy of those
> strips. Most bus pilots don't even trust the VDO analog gauges  I've done a
> lot of reading on this subject and have never heard of temp strips. The
> Dakota Digital is supposed to be the most accurate and that has to be
> installed at the #3 cylinder spark plug point.
>
>
> Pete
> '87 Westy 'JoesVan'
> '79 Westy 'Aardvark'
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 9:54 PM, Skip <skiplaubach@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi there.
>>
>> I recently added temperature strips to my heads, drove to and from work
>> (50 miles), then checked the strips.
>>
>> Passenger side had not reached 210F+, but the driver's side reached >
>> 230F.  Quite a difference.  Is 230F + too high?  Should I take action/stop
>> driving?
>>
>> The engine is an '84 1.9L WBXR case with the 2.2L GoWesty upgrade kit with
>> about 8,000 miles/1 year on the newly rebuilt engine, manual transmission.
>>   This is the first time that I've used the temp strips.
>>
>> I run 20W-50 Valvoline, but recently changed to Mobile 1 15W-50 Synthetic
>> (and I like it!).  The temp strips hit the above temps while running with
>> the Valvoline.
>>
>> I posted on the samba, but have had no feedback.
>>
>> Thanks for your experience, wisdom, and opinions.
>>
>> I'll try to link to some photos.
>>
>>   http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1069167.jpg   Driver's side
>>
>>   http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1069168.jpg   Passenger's side
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>   Skip
>>
If I were really concerned about it, I would mount an old school VDO air
cooled cylinder head temp guage and sender on the exhaust stud manifold
bolt/nut.  Buy three extra sending units if you want feedback jn all 4
cylinders.  This will give you much more instantaneous information as to
head temp changes.  I only needed one senderon the #3 stud on my old 79
Loaf, but I could certainly tell when I was climbing a long grade and
when I was off the throttle going down!!  It would hit 450 F t the top
of the hill and drop 100 degrees o nthe way down.  The water cooleds
prolly don't change that drastically, but kep in mind you're not using a
$1000 pyrometer to do the measuring.  Use the numbers as a "Point A,
point B and Point C" and compare everyday running temps with high and
low load readings.  If things get too warm or too cool, THEN some
detective work is in order.  I don't have head temp senders on my water
boxer and prolly won't unless I win the lottery.  YMMV

DM&FS