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Date:         Mon, 11 May 2009 17:14:51 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Thermostat soup: A comparison.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Stock '87 GL overheats at idle, radiator fan works on both speeds but has little/no effect. I got a new thermostat (FLAPS special) and pulled the old one. I don't remember what brand the old one is but it was supposed to be a good one and it is far beefier in construction; iirc I got it at the local import parts place back when but they were closed so I got this new one. Old one is maybe 7 yrs. old, but does not have a lot of miles/cycles on it.

In boiling water, the new one opens to about 3/8" fairly quickly and also closes fairly quickly. The old one opens (to my surprise), but to a little less than a 1/4", and takes its sweet time opening and closing. On the one hand, I'm thinking I might run the new one for the meantime, get myself another 'better' one and swap them out keeping the FLAPS thermostat for a spare. On the other hand, the old one didn't really give me much for my money. I normally keep a spare around; I don't know what happened to it, hence the FLAPS piece.

I know there's widely varying quality in these things, sometimes even within brands and I've found them dead out of the box, which is why I check them (I don't recall seeing one that 'partially' worked, however). I've also seen ppl argue for strictly OEM thermostats here on the list but I'm a long way from any VW dealer.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

Cya,

Robert


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