I've boiled thermostats before, out of curiosity, starting with cold water and using a thermometer, and found it does work well for testing if it's opening at the right temp. The ones I did open much faster, 30 to 60 seconds. I don't know what's concidered normal though. Boiling water (pure) can't excede 100 degrees Celcius at sea level, so your water must have been around 100 degrees.

Andrew
1984 Westy "Speed Bump"
1996 VW Jetta Trek  "Little Beep" (the wife's car)
The Basket Bus  http://www.creativegifts2go.com/vw.html

--- phil stanhope <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>Ive been boiling a Thermostat becouse ive been told
>its a good way to test it and find out if it
>opens/closes properly. it takes about 2-3 minutes to
>open completley once dropped into the boiling
>water-dont ask what temperature the water is, i dont
>have a clue:) The T'stat says on it 87 degrees Celcius
>rating. Does this all sound normal?
>Its a Tiico T'stat 100%German brass....the one I saw
>at Discount Auto Parts looked like it was made out of
>a used tuna can.
>
>
>Phil
>84' Westy Tiico "Millenium Falcon"
>84' Westfalia Wolfsburg edition GL--FOR SALE/SE
>VENDE!!(Florida Title/2nd owner)
>AC, PS, 4spd. Deluxe Instrument
>panel(tach/digi-clock)Super clean interior, Captains
>chairs, rare removable center bench seat for 6
>passenger capability. Body has rusty seams.
>Rolling chassis (has NO engine) perfect for a
>conversion project-Tiico? Subaru?
>60' Morris Mini1340CC(ALSO for sale-separately)
>
>"When work gets to be too much i retreat to the van."
>-J Speer
>
>
>
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