The air cooled engines can and do overheat. They don't freeze up or boil
over but they do overheat. If you are lucky they will start to knock and
ping and maybe loose power to let you know something is wrong. Usually you
find out in one of the following ways: drop a valve, melt a piston, pull the
head studs out of one side of the engine, puke all the oil out the back,
melt a head, throw a rod or seize the main bearings.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 10:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Change a VW Fan Belt In 5 Seconds?

the only belt on the engine, drives the generator ( alternator in late
models ) AND the engine cooling fan.
Loose the belt, you loose all cooling.

you might find it interesting, that a Bug convertible, with the top down, on
a hot day, on a long grade......
can overheat. The stowed top blocks air flow to the air inlet , preventing
sufficient  engine cooling.

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: Change a VW Fan Belt In 5 Seconds?

> At 09:48 PM 10/26/2009, Jake de Villiers wrote:
>>What do you mean by "before the engine slags down"  ?
>
> Melts.  Or does that belt *not* drive the cooling fan?  I'm
> comparatively Beetle-ignorant, although I had an early lurching
> experience with one fitted with a racing clutch.
>
> d