Date:         Tue, 3 Dec 1996 17:55:54 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Austin <austins@ix.netcom.com>
Subject:      thermostats

At 03:36 AM 12/3/96 -0600, you wrote:

>P.S.  Thermostat seems to be stuck open, little heat and the needle doesn't
>move off cold ( I know the guage does work after taking the car over the
>mountains).
>
>Best,
>
>Bill Lund

Fix it now!!!

This is a 'minor' situation that can (will) cause big problems;  a
stuck-open thermostat will increase engine wear like you wouldn't believe -
the poor thing never runs at design temperature, rather lt's constantly
running as if it has just been started (& please don't ask how I found out,
at least it wasn't the Vanagon).  Also, thermostats have a bad habit of
getting 'lazy', i.e. they  open too soon (or actually never completely close
when cold) and the engine consequently starts taking a l.o.n.g time to warm
up.  Keep track of what your gauge is telling you, believe it, & replace the
thermostat as soon as it starts getting lazy (cheap,~ $10, & can be done on
a Vanagon in ~ 1/2 hour).

Austin