diff --git a/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG Providers.md b/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG Providers.md
index a159aa6..864407b 100644
--- a/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG Providers.md	
+++ b/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG Providers.md	
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ Tune the `outgoing` block and the suspend model to survive load:
 
 ```yaml
 outgoing:
-  request_timeout: 6.0             # raise from 2.0 so slow engines aren't dropped as unresponsive
-  max_request_timeout: 15.0
-  pool_connections: 200            # bigger pool = more concurrent connections per engine host
-  pool_maxsize: 40                 # keep-alive connections per host
-  enable_http2: true               # multiplexing = fewer distinct "new connection" events per engine
-  retries: 3                       # on 429/5xx, retry against a different proxy + source IP
+  request_timeout: 4.0             # current Dankclaw value; modest VPN-latency allowance
+  max_request_timeout: 12.0
+  pool_connections: 100
+  pool_maxsize: 20
+  enable_http2: true
+  retries: 1                       # avoid amplifying 429/CAPTCHA responses from one exit IP
   useragent_suffix: "ops@yourhomelab.example"   # so a per-engine blocker can reach you
 
 search:
@@ -159,8 +159,12 @@ Notes:
   that is a historical-searx concept. The functional equivalent is the suspend
   schedule above (widen to back off before blocking, narrow to recover faster).
 - `request_timeout` interacts with the suspend model: too tight → engines look
-  "unresponsive"; too loose → slow pages. Aim per-engine `timeout` at
-  *proxy-add-on time + engine latency*, capped by `max_request_timeout`.
+  "unresponsive"; too loose → slow pages. Dankclaw uses 4 seconds globally and
+  12 seconds as the cap; raise it only when measurements show real upstream
+  latency rather than 429/CAPTCHA responses.
+- Keep retries low: retrying a 429/CAPTCHA through the same VPN exit can make the
+  provider's rate limit worse. A retry count of 1 is a bounded compromise for a
+  transient network failure.
 - `safe_search: 0` when diagnosing — a too-strict global safe search can make an
   engine return zero rows and *look* blocked.
 
@@ -288,9 +292,10 @@ misleading).
 1. **Verify first** — `/json` + `?engines=google` and the searx-checker to see
    exactly which engines are down and why. Confirm the running SearXNG version
    (check whether `parsers`/`rate_limit` exist in the pinned build).
-2. **Tighten Fix B** — raise `outgoing.request_timeout`, add `retry_on_http_error:
-   [403, 429]` on the Google engines, widen `suspended_times`. Cheapest, no new
-   infra.
+2. **Use conservative request tuning** — Dankclaw now allows 4 seconds per
+   upstream request, caps it at 12 seconds, and retries once. This addresses
+   modest VPN latency without multiplying 429/CAPTCHA traffic. Adjust only
+   after measuring the resulting error and latency profile.
 3. **Duplicate the Google engines** (Fix A) so a CAPTCHA ban on one leaves the
    other returning results.
 4. **If Google still re-blocks** — Fix C Option 1: point the Google engines at a
diff --git a/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG.md b/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG.md
index fbfaedc..9e760e0 100644
--- a/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG.md
+++ b/docs/Dankclaw/SearXNG.md
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ valkey:
   url: "valkey://searxng-valkey:6379/0"
 
 outgoing:
-  request_timeout: 3.0
-  max_request_timeout: 10.0
-  retries: 3
+  request_timeout: 4.0
+  max_request_timeout: 12.0
+  retries: 1                     # avoid amplifying upstream 429/CAPTCHA responses
 ```
 
 ## Volumes
@@ -96,8 +96,11 @@ Reach SearXNG through Caddy (`search.dankclaw.local`) for browser use. A local s
 
 ## Unblocking Google & Search Providers
 
-SearXNG queries all ~50 upstream engines from one Gluetun VPN exit IP. The
-rate-sensitive engines (Google, DuckDuckGo) then answer with reCAPTCHA / 429,
+The current request policy allows a modest amount of VPN latency (`4.0s` per
+request, `12.0s` maximum) while limiting retries to one. This can recover slow
+providers, but it cannot fix an upstream CAPTCHA or 429 caused by the shared
+VPN exit IP. SearXNG queries all ~50 upstream engines from one Gluetun VPN exit
+IP. The rate-sensitive engines (Google, DuckDuckGo) then answer with reCAPTCHA / 429,
 and SearXNG **suspends** the offending engine for hours to days, which is what
 shows up as "Google went unavailable". This is upstream, not local.
 
diff --git a/shared/searxng/settings.yml b/shared/searxng/settings.yml
index de8ff0d..dac8c78 100644
--- a/shared/searxng/settings.yml
+++ b/shared/searxng/settings.yml
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ valkey:
   url: "valkey://searxng-valkey:6379/0"
 
 outgoing:
-  request_timeout: 3.0
-  max_request_timeout: 10.0
+  request_timeout: 4.0
+  max_request_timeout: 12.0
   pool_connections: 100
   pool_maxsize: 20
   enable_http2: true
   keepalive_expiry: 5.0
-  retries: 3
+  retries: 1
 
 plugins:
   searx.plugins.unit_converter.SXNGPlugin:
diff --git a/tests/searxng_limiter.bats b/tests/searxng_limiter.bats
index f468563..d104145 100644
--- a/tests/searxng_limiter.bats
+++ b/tests/searxng_limiter.bats
@@ -57,6 +57,19 @@ assert not missing, f"pass_ip missing {missing}; got {pass_ip}"
 PYEOF
 }
 
+@test "SearXNG outgoing policy allows modest VPN latency without retry amplification" {
+    python3 - "$REPO_ROOT/shared/searxng/settings.yml" <<'PYEOF'
+import sys, yaml
+with open(sys.argv[1]) as fh:
+    data = yaml.safe_load(fh)
+outgoing = data.get("outgoing", {})
+assert outgoing.get("request_timeout") == 4.0, outgoing
+assert outgoing.get("max_request_timeout") == 12.0, outgoing
+assert outgoing.get("retries") == 1, outgoing
+assert outgoing["request_timeout"] < outgoing["max_request_timeout"], outgoing
+PYEOF
+}
+
 @test "deploy.sh copies limiter.toml into /opt/searxng/config" {
     grep -q "shared/searxng/limiter.toml" "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/deploy.sh" \
         || { echo "deploy.sh does not copy shared/searxng/limiter.toml"; return 1; }