You don't have to take the oil filter out.  At least I didn't when I
changed my thermostat in my 84.

blake

On Tue, 31 Jul 2001, David Beierl wrote:

> At 09:47 PM 7/31/2001, Chad G wrote:
> >will I have to empty all my coolant in order to replace the thermostat in a
> >1.9L engine???
>
> I don't think so.  I've changed the thermostat in an '84 without losing
> more than a pint at most.  Mind you this was replacing a thermostat that
> was itself brand new, so there was no corrosion at all to deal with.
>
> >is changing the thermostat a difficult task??
>
> It's a nuisance but not difficult.  Clearances are very tight and you have
> to take the oil filter out.  Some people have been unable to do it but I
> don't know whether that's a difference in engines or in people's spatial
> abilities -- I've always been the guy who could get the refrigerator down
> the apartment stairs...
>
> david
>
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"
>