Same thing happened to me a couple of months ago.  There are 2 temps 80c and
86c.  I think the normal one is the 86.  Seeing the needle up that high
freaked me out so I had an 80 degree installed and now my needle sits right
on the warning light and my blood pressure is back to normal.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Watts <MVAone@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: Thermostat problem??

>I had my t-stat replaced while on the road. Now the guage consistently
reads
>one needle mark above the warning light. Did they put in a higher temp
>t-stat? What temp is the normal one? BTW mine was stuck in the open
position.
>Caused mucho gas consumption. It was 10 degrees out.
>
>
>tia,
>Mark
>