Date:         Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:58:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      What Should I See On the Temperature Gage?
Comments: To: Wetwesties <Wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Okay, I've posed this question before in a slightly different form but here
goes again.
I'll describe the appearance/behavior of the temperature gage on two
different vehicles, both running 21.L WBX w/automatic tranny, both with the
GL dash (small temp gage under the tach)
First vehicle the needle of the temp gage rises slowly when starting from
cold, never gets up to the LED, stays just below in normal outside temps.
When climbing steep mountain passes the needle will climb up to the LED and
at just above the LED the fan will come on.  But when going down the other
side of such a pass the needle drops way down almost to or sometimes against
the bottom mark on the gage.  Normal running at highway speeds in the flat
the needle will be about half way up to the LED, maybe a little higher.
Second vehicle the gage, from a cold start, quickly runs up to about the
center of the LED and stays there.  Rises a little to the top of the LED
when climbing a mountain pass, fan may come on if the needle gets to the top
of the LED.  But running down the other side of the pass needle stays up at
the LED, never drops down to the bottom like the first vehicle. And needle
stays centered on the LED when running at highway speeds on the flat.
I'm assuming that the second is correct and the first has a thermostat that
is sticking open or at least passing more coolant to the radiator than it
should.  And that the second is the way I'd expect:  Thermostat opening and
closing based on the temperature of the coolant and keeping the engine at a
constant operating temperature.
So, which is normal? Which is 'right'?