Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2016 21:55:28 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Cooling system questions
In-Reply-To: <CAG12aitC6+UQjyVDg5a1nv2C=XQaBKJ8xUsnh+zRG0-fmYkhdw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
87C is the stock, correct thermostat. The radiator fan switch is checking the temperature of the coolant in the radiator. There is some interesting interactions going on here. For the heaters (and the engine oil cooler), the coolant supply is from the engine before the thermostat. So letting the engine coolant get hotter will improve heater performance. A lower temp. t-stat will also make the radiator work more as the coolant flows to it sooner however based on the fan switch used the fan won’t come on until the coolant is hot enough that the engine temperature is just as hot as it would be with the correct t-stat anyway. Yes there could be some advantage to the lower setting such as cooler oil but that should be covered separately.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Rick Cooper
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2016 10:49 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Cooling system questions
Dennis, can you explain? I'd thought that putting an 87 degree thermostat would make my heaters run higher than usual, but then yesterday I read somewhere that this is the stock thermostat and some guys put in an 80 degree thermostat thinking it will help their engines run cooler. I'm confused. In any event, does it matter much?
Except in my case, now that I've discovered that the rad fan is never coming on, it doesn't leave a lot of room for potential over-heating conditions (high ambient temp, going up hills, etc). Good thing its currently cool here in BC.
Getting ready to address that problem. Fuse #1 is fine. I've got an '86 tintop from which I can pull parts. Thought I'd try swapping the rad fan
switch. Is the '86 rad fan compatible with the '87 or is this when they
went to the bigger fan?
Thanks, Rick
On Sun, Feb 14, 2016 at 5:48 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Someday I'll figure out what folks think they are actually fixing by
> doing this. When the weather gets hot and the engine loading is up
> there the t-stat opening too early won’t help anything.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Dan N
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2016 7:26 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Cooling system questions
>
> what a coincidence... I replace the thermostat on my '88 GL
> yesterday.. I put in a 80°C thermostat (we live in So. Cal.), I also
> replace the the coolant sensor for gauge..
>
> I topped up the main reservoir, test run, top up one more time and all
> went well...
>
> if you have problem... this may help..
>
> http://www.benplace.com/bleeding.htm
>
> http://www.vanagonauts.com/By-the-Bentley193.htm
>
