Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:48:22 -0500
Reply-To: Ry <rylincoln@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ry <rylincoln@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 80c or 87c thermostat?
In-Reply-To: <00f401cadcd0$1a0ae3b0$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I have had this same question. I have a stock 87c and an 80c thermostat.
Things I learned while testing them to satisfy my curiosity are:
A: My fuel mileage was unaffected, at least within my margin of error in
testing my MPG.
B: Thermostats don't Open all at once, it is a gradual process caused by the
expansion of wax.
I agree with everyone here that says if you have an overheating problem the
solution is NOT going with a lower rated thermostat. The thermostat is
very unlikely to cause or fix overheating as pointed out by everyone.
However based on my trials with both thermostats the efficiency is not
measurably affected. For me it came down to personal choice as I had not
generated evidence supporting either to warrant a conclusive answer. But
don't take my word for it, test things yourself. :)
I have a brand new radiator, rebuilt motor, new cooling hoses. I live in
the hot climate of south central Texas and boy can I feel the runaway
freight train of summer barreling down on us. Swimming at Barton Creek in
Austin is awesome though!
-Ry
http://www.google.com/profiles/rylincoln
On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:16 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> Warmer is better for sure.
> I use the 87.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:41 PM
> Subject: Re: 80c or 87c thermostat?
>
>
> Scott, my impression is that commerce will make whatever people will buy.
>> Some folks get to thinking that if their engine overheats, putting in a
>> cooler thermostat will help. It won't. The thermostat is there to raise
>> the temperature to the stated level. If it is working correctly, it opens
>> once that temperature is reached. The engine can still overheat, but not
>> because the thermostat is the stock 87 C thermostat. Overheating is
>> higher than 87 C. The 80 C thermostat will open at 80 C, but it won't
>> keep the engine from overheating if there is a problem otherwise, either.
>> If the engine is overheating, there is a problem other than too hot a
>> thermostat, and a cooler one will not help. And the reason stock
>> thermostats are 87 C is because that's the temperature at which the engine
>> runs best (might actually run better a little hotter, but 87 works, while
>> 80 is too cool).
>>
>> Some experts (I'm not one) may have a different explanation, or may even
>> disagree.
>>
>> ---- Scott Chapman <scott_list@MISCHKO.COM> wrote:
>>
>>> I see that there's lower temp thermostats avaialble for the Westy.
>>> What's the use of a lower temp thermostat? Stock is 87 and these are 80
>>> IIRC.
>>>
>>
>> --
>> David McNeely
>>
>
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