> 
> 
> 5. The factory temperature guage is not a reliable indicator of
> dangerously high coolant temperature - anything past half way actually
> indicates an over temp condition that should be addressed by pulling over
> and shutting down the engine immediately?
> 

Nah, gauge and sensor are perfectly adequate VDO equipment. As for above 
half-way being "overheated"? Not really. While there is some variation, the 
"nominal" reading seems to be right about half way. In traffic or very hot 
weather it will run higher, but even when it gets to 3/4 and the fan comes 
on, this STILL isn't an overheat condition. 7/8 and higher on the gauge, now 
THAT'S an overheat; but even with the PO of my van (who used to run it up to 
8/8, pull over and wait for the boiling over to stop, then re-fill the 
cooling system and keep going, repeating until destination reached) my head 
gaskets dripped a bit but held adequately until the engine succumbed to a 
broken head stud (corrosion induced, prob from that constant flow of fresh 
tap water into the cooling system).
-- 
John Bange
'90 Vanagon
"Keine Bange, wir holen die Zange!"