...
Then one lane was shut down with "Right Lane Closed Ahead". I have been in Canada and other states where as sign like this causes drivers to move to the left lane. Not in California. Some, of course move over but extra traffic in the left lane slows it a bit so other drivers jump out into the right lane. Traffic that could have moved through the area at 45 MPH now sat, not moving for 10 minutes. Gotta love CA drivers.

Once we were in the switch backs the temp got to 230 again. Is my gauge accurate? No idea. It is relatively new- 5 years.

So, we ran 230 for about five miles. If it got level at all it cooled to 220. I don't like 220.

No vapor lock. I thought I felt a sputter as I hit the gas on a hairpin but it went fine. Got to camp and shut it off. It went to 230+. I don't like 220.

Do I care?

I suppose if I am honest, not really.

At those temperatures the clutch fan should have engaged and brought the temperature down too 190 or 200. Is it working?

Then comes into play
the RUDE, INATTENTIVE, DISTRACTED, IMPAIRED, LAMEASS OTHER drivers who
think they can just ace their way to the head of the line by roaring ahead
in the closed lane.

James Hupy wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 10:43

Then comes into play
the RUDE, INATTENTIVE, DISTRACTED, IMPAIRED, LAMEASS OTHER drivers who
think they can just ace their way to the head of the line by roaring ahead
in the closed lane.

You're not getting it. The lane is closING, not closED.
Don't move over till you have to. If you do, YOU are the problem.

Sorry, Keith. Merging everyone in a two mile space has a much better chance than merging in 40 feet when the cones are crowding in. That's why the signs are two miles out. 1) you _have_ to merge, so merge and 2) merging is easier at 45 than when stopped 0.

Keith V wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 10:19

James Hupy wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 10:43

Then comes into play
the RUDE, INATTENTIVE, DISTRACTED, IMPAIRED, LAMEASS OTHER drivers who
think they can just ace their way to the head of the line by roaring ahead
in the closed lane.

You're not getting it. The lane is closING, not closED.
Don't move over till you have to. If you do, YOU are the problem.

Sorry, Keith. Merging everyone in a two mile space has a much better chance than merging in 40 feet when the cones are crowding in. That's why the signs are two miles out. 1) you _have_ to merge, so merge and 2) merging is easier at 45 than when stopped 0.

Just my opinion.

I have a laser heat gun and will do the check offered earlier. The engine was not boiling and no coolant was lost. I say, if there is still water in the rig, no harm done. I still don't like 220*

I bought a mechanical Sun temperature gauge a few months ago. Put the sender in a pot of water on the stove along with a very accurate digital cooking thermometer I use for beer making. Turned on the heat and watched. The Sun gauge lagged the digital gauge by at least 10 degrees as the water heated up. But the scary part was at the boiling point. With the digital gauge twitching back and forth between 211 and 212 and the water bubbling merrily, the Sun gauge read a rock solid 204. That's not good. It went back.

<snip>
Later we started into the mountains. We could go about 50 through much of the foothills and the temperature ran about 220. I don't like 220. I shut off the dash air. The temperature ran about 220. I don't like 220.

Once we were in the switch backs the temp got to 230 again. Is my gauge accurate? No idea. It is relatively new- 5 years.

So, we ran 230 for about five miles. If it got level at all it cooled to 220. I don't like 220.

No vapor lock. I thought I felt a sputter as I hit the gas on a hairpin but it went fine. Got to camp and shut it off. It went to 230+. I don't like 220.

Do I care?

I suppose if I am honest, not really.

George Beckman wrote on Mon, 04 August 2014 13:43

Sorry, Keith. Merging everyone in a two mile space has a much better chance than merging in 40 feet when the cones are crowding in. That's why the signs are two miles out. 1) you _have_ to merge, so merge and 2) merging is easier at 45 than when stopped 0.

This is important. It's the right way to merge.
I'm on a mission to undo years of brainwashing that you need to move over at the first lane closed ahead sign. The signs are there to remind you, not to make you merge. That's why they say "lane closed ahead", not "Merge Left".
When you see the "Merge Left" sign, then you merge.

( This only applies in heavy traffic, not light traffic )

1. Read what the MN DOT says in my links above.
2. The zipper merge eliminates the shock wave from early merges
3. The zipper merge prevents 'jerks' from driving by you on that open lane ( they are doing nothing wrong )
4. using both lanes as long as possible will keep the average speed higher
5. zipper merge removes the "if you're not in my lane by now I'm not letting you in" mentality

I've done it both ways, Minnesota is pushing hard on the zipper merge, the zipper merge is less stressful and faster than early merging.

The RIGHT way is for no one to move out of the right lane until it ends. That way all traffic is moving as fast as possible and no one can zoom by and disturb the 'holier than thous' in the left lane. Because as we all know, if youre not already in the left lane they aint gonna let you in. So when someone does George Jestson into the left lane everyone has to hit the brakes and the resulting shock wave is what causes the long stops for no reason.

Google 'Zipper Merge'
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/zippermerge/
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2014/07/the-beauty-of-zipper-merging-or-why-you-should-drive-ruder/