AS temp warning light?

CarlIseminger · 17 February 2010, 21:45

I am just curious as to why VW would install an indicator light warning of overheating the automatic transmission fluid, but wouldn't install a warning light, warning the driver of overheating the engine? It seems to me that if they figured out how to warn of the AS overheating, they could have figured out a way to warn of a major engine over heat.

singlecab61 · 25 February 2010, 07:37

Quote from: CarlIseminger on 17 February 2010, 21:45
I am just curious as to why VW would install an indicator light warning of overheating the automatic transmission fluid, but wouldn't install a warning light, warning the driver of overheating the engine? It seems to me that if they figured out how to warn of the AS overheating, they could have figured out a way to warn of a major engine over heat.

That would have made too much sense!!!

Murphy's Law: If it makes sense and/or saves money, it cannot be done!

CarlIseminger · 25 February 2010, 17:58

I remember reading in one of my repair manuals recently, sorry I don't remember which one, about autosticks and how to drive them. It was not the Haynes manual. Anyway, they said in there that since the autostick engine can't be "lugged", that when the transmission first came out, and the transmission was intended to help sell this compact car to people who couldn't figure out how to handle a clutch, that dealers were telling people that they could leave it in R2 and do all your driving if you didn't mind the poor acceleration and lowered gas mileage.

So maybe VW was trying to avoid the overheating issue if one were to do that.

I have started it out in R2 and worried as to what was wrong with the car only to reach over to shift in into R2 and discovered I started out in that gear. So it will do it.

ebbingnl · 26 February 2010, 20:25

Is it possible to overheat the engine in a autostick?

Mostly drive it in highest gear and then engine runs nice, even with little RPM's so has an easy life behind the backseat i would think

Bookwus · 26 February 2010, 23:50

Hiya Gerwin,

Possible to overheat a VW engine? Most definitely!

These engines like to be driven at relatively high RPMs. When you are running the engine at high RPMs you are also running the fan at high RPMs. That's good for the cooling of the engine.

I try not to lug my engine, but always run it up in RPMs and then shift. The engine seems to appreciate that.

ebbingnl · 27 February 2010, 00:23

An engine at high RPM produces lots of more heat then an engine at low rpm, so you will need lots of more cooling at high rpm.
few rpm's more need lots of more cooling, so lower rpm produces less heat.

Ten there is the torque converter, makes engine turns a lot on idle rpm, so engine keeps cooler relatif.
thats why i wonder if its possible to overheat.

Bookwus · 27 February 2010, 15:01

Hiya Gerwin,

Quote from: ebbingnl on 27 February 2010, 00:23
An engine at high RPM produces lots of more heat then an engine at low rpm, so you will need lots of more cooling at high rpm.

That's true and the fan system does provide more cooling at higher RPMs.

Quote....few rpm's more need lots of more cooling, so lower rpm produces less heat.

While lower RPMs will cause relatively less heat, the problem arises that the cooling system provides even less cooling as RPMs approach the idle mark. For example, in breaking in a newly rebuilt engine it is absolutely imperative that one keeps the RPMs of the engine at or above 2500. If RPMs were allowed to go below that for any appreciable amount of time the engine will overheat. Now we are talking about a new engine with lots of friction on the internal surfaces but the principle is the same for any VW engine. Lugging it will increase heat in the engine by decreasing the fan output and the fan becomes more ineffective the lower the RPMs go.

QuoteTen there is the torque converter, makes engine turns a lot on idle rpm, so engine keeps cooler relatif.
thats why i wonder if its possible to overheat.

The AS engine is (or should be) idling just below 1000 RPMs. That's quite a ways away from the 2500 RPMs mentioned above. VW made this car to move and while it can sit at traffic lights with the best of 'em, it does tend to heat up while doing so for long periods of time. Doubt that? Drive your car around the neighborhood for 15 minutes to warm it up. Then take an infared thermometor and measure the temperature of the engine after it has sat in one place idling for 10 minutes. Now, take it back out on the road and drive it around (keeping the RPMs up evenly (a freeway would be good for this) at around 3000 for 10 minutes. You should see lower temperatures after your freeway run.

68autobug · 03 March 2010, 12:49

Quote from: CarlIseminger on 25 February 2010, 17:58
I remember reading in one of my repair manuals recently, sorry I don't remember which one, about autosticks and how to drive them. It was not the Haynes manual. Anyway, they said in there that since the autostick engine can't be "lugged", that when the transmission first came out, and the transmission was intended to help sell this compact car to people who couldn't figure out how to handle a clutch, that dealers were telling people that they could leave it in R2 and do all your driving if you didn't mind the poor acceleration and lowered gas mileage.

So maybe VW was trying to avoid the overheating issue if one were to do that.

I have started it out in R2 and worried as to what was wrong with the car only to reach over to shift in into R2 and discovered I started out in that gear. So it will do it.

Yes,
I've been told that dealers told customers who wanted an auto to drive in D2 all the time

LEE

ebbingnl · 04 March 2010, 22:04

Original manual(dutch) say's can always drive 2, when lot of city traffic with traffic lights etc. then advise is to start in 1, and when your in hills or towing heavy loads then to start in L.