Operating temps

[Shannen Durphey]

Mike Rolica wrote:
> 
> DRUGS!! LOOK WHAT THEY DO!!  The highest thermostat I've ever seen is 195
> deg at 280, serious engine damage occurs!  Mine runs at 212 max! oh by the
> way  my 1999 vw golf vr6, the first fan kicks on at 203 off at 195  second
> kicks on at 212 off at 200.  At 220, the ecm kills the motor!  Been there
> too.
> Mike Rolica
> EXT. 260
>  :-)
Well, that's what life is like when you're puttering around in a
miniature Golf.  Just kidding.  But Dave Cooley is absolutely correct
about the fan temps for GM cars.  One of the most common complaints of
C4 Vette owners is that the fans kick on at too high a temp.  Coming
directly from a factory calibration, the primary fan turns on at 109d
C (228d F) and the secondary fan turns on at 113d C (235d F).  It's
not uncommon for coolant temps to reach 240. 

To truly expand your boundaries, read Dave Vizard's report on the Meca
Oiling Systems tests with reverse flow Propylene Glycol cooling
systems.  Engine temperatures are raised from 190 to 260 d F, with
compression ratios as high as 16:1.  What was found was that the
engines make slightly more hp on less fuel.  Hard to believe?  Maybe. 
But it's good reading nonetheless.

Maybe you should look into why your golf shuts down at 220.  I'm sure
that VW doesn't want to pay for overheated engines, so they play it
safe.  There's a huge difference between the emissions controlled
warranty included world of production cars and the all out, balls to
the wall life a race car leads.  Way too many considerations to say
the shutdown temp on an imported European car is the gospel in engine
operation.
Just a few thoughts.
Shannen