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Date:         Mon, 1 Feb 2016 07:51:20 -0800
Reply-To:     Tyler Hardison <tyler@SERAPH-NET.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tyler Hardison <tyler@SERAPH-NET.NET>
Subject:      Re: Drilling a hole on thermostat?
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAFnDXk28s12CPDx6waWVncAT9JBqkJ8cy+s7jZ4-d6i6O5WA_A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

My understanding of the history of this practice was to aid in the refilling of the coolant by allowing a "burp hole" to pass air.

However, if you're following the Bentley method or any method that this list has recommended, this shouldn't be necessary in the Vanagon.

I remember seeing this on big block american motors pre-ODB because often the thermostat is on a high point on the engine, and is the last stop before the upper radiator hose. If you can fill it completely without having to start the engine to get the thermostat to open.. Bonus.

But in every modern implementation, there is some sort of bypass that exists that negates the need to drill this hole.

Just my 2c.

On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 3:06 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> I grew up in a town with lots of factory trained Mercedes mechanics and > other German car mechanics sent here primarily to take care of the cars of > Dr. Von Braun and his staff. It was common practice for them to drill such > a hole in thermostats. Wolfgang Von Fricke, best mechanic around here ever > (his wife still operates his business) did it. I have seen them come out of > the box that way. I have used them with a hole and without a hole all my > life. I cannot tell a seconds difference in the warmup time between the two > styles. No advantages, but no problems. > > Jim > > On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 2:08 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> > wrote: > > > Be sure that the person giving that advice is never allowed to work on > > your van. The Vanagon cooling system is massive considering the small > size > > of the engine. Any bypass from the radiator in cold weather seriously > takes > > away from the engines’ ability to warm up. There already is a bypass > bleed > > valve there for service only. Having the tstat close completely is so > > important there is a rubber seal on the top disc. If you have an > > overheating problem destroying the tstat is not a fix. > > > > Sent from Outlook Mail<http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550987> > for > > Windows 10 phone > > > > > > From: Dan N<mailto:dn92610@GMAIL.COM> > > Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 1:02 PM > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > > Subject: Drilling a hole on thermostat? > > > > hi all, > > > > someone told me to drill an 1/8" hole on a new thermostat. The original > one > > doesn't have it. Is there any benefit (or problem) by doing this? > > > > please help > > > > thanks > > > > dan > > >


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