Your right except there is very little convection especially with the
t-stat closed. If you see the gauge rise without the water pump turning,
it is because you have already made steam and engine damage has begun.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of John Bange
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 3:50 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Battery Light

> Yes I knew about the waterpump. I shut down and parked as soon as I
> realized what happened, but did limp home once the engine had cooled
> (short distance and a sharp eye on the coolant gauge)

One thing to be aware of when doing that is that the coolant temp sensor
is
in the T-stat housing and the heat is coming from the engine. Without
the
water pump running, you're depending on convection bringing water up to
the
sensor...

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"