Date:         Sat, 5 Mar 2011 13:49:09 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Overheating problem 91 2.1
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTimq2CWGREe5do3dYQtDsCgiXP=MkOV=sc=_dn7z@mail.gmail.c om>
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At 01:15 PM 3/5/2011, Jim Felder wrote:
>When I start the car from cold, the temperature needle climbs steadily
>and slowly up past the middle through the 3.4 mark, no matter what.
>Top of radiator, which spews coolant and not air when opened, is cool
>to the touch. Thermostat? I will gamble the money and replace it next
>week when I can get a good one.

Doesn't sound like a huge gamble to me...but you can test it mostly
with water or fully with coolant mix and a thermometer: should start
to open around 185F/85C and be fully open (minimum 8 mm stroke) at
around 220F/105C.  Bentley 19.11.

And as Dennis and others remind us, the correct replacement does
*not* have a relief hole or check ball on the side, and *does* have a
gasket on the edge of the moving plate.  And it goes in with the
spring facing down  and the O-ring on top.

Yours,
David