In reminiscence, with little relevance to the present, I'm sure, I drove a 1969 VW Beetle with a 1835 cc, dual Weber 44 IDF's, Scat 296°, 0.420" lift cam, etc, etc, etc. It was a rolling investment in epic adventures. Extreme engine heat is the nemesis of air-cooled engines like that vintage VW, and extreme measures are taken to mitigate it. Even so, with all the precautions taken and remedies in place, engine internal components are exceptionally stressed due to the severe-duty environment. I used two products in the day (one still available) that provided notable benefits.
The first was Fluoramics Tufoil Engine Treatment, a PTFE-based (Teflon) oil additive. It qualitatively helped reduce engine temperature, extended oil-change intervals, and noticeably improved fuel mileage, although I've retained no quantitative data from that many years ago to defend the claim. In the mind of a hungry college student, the drawback of using the product was its price. The product is still available.
The second notable product, which fell out of production decades ago, was Union 76, 20w-50 Graphite engine oil. It was the only oil available at the time (known to me, at least) that could withstand the extreme heat produced by a highly modified VW engine and still provide suitable lubricity w/o breaking down. It was the only oil that prevented galling of valve train rocker shafts, adjusting screws, and valve tips! Its biggest drawback? The graphite component created a filthy black mess with which to contend during oil changes or when leaks occurred. Some people complained that the graphite would plug oil filters. I ran a full flow filter with an external cooler and never experienced that issue in many hard miles.
Those were simpler days, loaded with fun and many a trip into the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, interspersed with coast and high-mountain adventures.
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