I was running around the golf course today on the cartpath that had about 6-8" of crusty snow. I felt I needed 4 wheel low and ran that way for about 30-45 min st 5-10 mph and the temp. gauge went all the way to H and stayed that way until I got back to the road and got my speed up over 20mph. I figured the radiator needed some air flow and cooled down.

Is this normal? Should I not drive that long in 4 WL?

Don't know why it would do that. We drive all day in 4lo when on xcursions and the engine does not get hot. Maybe if you were really treking in the snow and the engine was working hard then I could see it since there was no air flow to cool down the radiator. Might just be something to monitor.

I do remember at GOXIII once when going uphill for several minutes with the engine working decently my temp did go a bit higher than normal but chalked it up to the elevation and engine load.

And since I am sure someone will ask what on earth were you wheeling on the golf course for

Some people have built up a lot of mud and crap in their radiators that caused overheating. Might make sure yours is free of debris.

Otherwise, maybe your thermostat isn't working properly...possibly stuck somehwere between open and closed.

I assume you already checked the obvious (coolant).

Those are the most common items.

It felt like the engine was working hard. The radiator is clean (never been in dirt or mud). I was at 3000 rpms and 10mph and thought air flow could be a problem but also thought that this speed and rpm is normal for 4WL and should not create this problem unless something was wrong (IE. coolinf system). Just got back from a 7 hour drive on the PA turnpike and no temp problems. I still think something isn't right.

As for being on the golf course, I work there and with all the snow we can't get our regular equipment out to check on the things so I "volunteered" to do a recon

Hmmm ... this is interesting. I would like to think that the VG33 engine could withstand 3000 RPM in 4 Lo (especially in the winter), but I'm not sure. 3000 RPM for extended periods of time, with minimal air flow may cause the engine to overheat. I do most of my off roading in 4 Lo; at speeds less than 10 mph (most of the time less than 5 mph). I have never seen the temp gauge climb past the normal mark (not even in the heat of summer), but I almost never rev the engine past 1500.

I would check the coolant level and head back out on the course. Put it in 4 Lo and drive for 30 - 45 minutes; but this time keep the RPMs down around 1500. See what happens. If the gauge starts to climb past the normal reading, take it to the shop for a diagnosis. If there really is a problem, it could be any number of things ... thermostat, mechanical fan clutch, inoperable electric fan, etc.

Maybe 3000 RPMs for 45 minutes of slow speed driving is just too much?

While you're experimenting, try not to let the temp gauge go all the way to H. This is bad for the engine; the heat can affect the metal composition of rods, pistons, valvetrain components, etc. It can also cause a blown head gasket or warped/cracked head. Keep a sharp eye on the temp gauge and if it starts to heat up, stop and let the engine idle until it returns to normal operating temp. If it continues to get hotter while idling, just cut it off and let it cool down before continuing.