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Subject:Re: thermostat temp vs thermo switch temp - 87 westy
From:Jfp w/2 WBXs
Date:Wed, 11 Dec 2002 02:47:02 +0000

Hi Mike,

The 87*C thermostat will give you better heating and I believe that a
properly operating cooling system DOES NOT need the 80*C unit.

If you refer to the Bentley schematic for your cooling fan you'll see that
the radiator thermo-switch switches the low stage on at 95*C and the high
stage at 102*C Radiator temp! This means that when cruising with ample ram
air - the radiator fan never switches on. The 95 & 102* switch points are
failsafe substitutes for the lack of ram air. When ram air is plentiful the
87* t/stat actually HOLDS BACK too much cooled coolant from entering the
engine.

When the cooling ram air stops and engine RPM drops, such as in traffic, the
87* t/stat opens fully to compensate for the reduced coolant flow and as the
radiator temp rises, the 95 & 102* switch points create artificial ram air.
Note that a properly cooling systen should never need the high speed fan
operation.

There is a middle speed that functions on A/C high side pressures but let's
talk about that next summer!

Regards,     John

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