I have had the lower temp thermostat (80C) in my van for four years now. During the winter (under 70F in Florida) it runs right under the LED. In stop and go traffic it will run just above the LED. The rest of the time it is right on the LED. The fuel mileage is still around 18-20 but mine never takes more than a couple of minutes to get to full operating temperature.

  The colder range thermostat opens earlier (faster) than the 87C one, not slower. It shouldn't change the operating temperature of the motor except in cold weather (under 70F in my experience) on the open road.

  Good luck,

  Tim

JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:
  a while back i told y'all my '85 was running hot.. needle would be over the
red light at normal op temp. fan would come on when when needle got at 3/4.
put a new rad in, changed the gauge in the dash, still didnt bring the temps
down..

a few days ago, put a new t-stat in.. a 70� one instead of the 87� one..
now needle barely makes it to the bottom of the red light... of course keep
in mind that its still winter here in PA even if it is officially
spring..(been in the low 40�'s last few days except for today)

talked to ken and he said the only adverse affects from running a 70� t-stat
instead of the orig 87� one, is that the t-stat will take longer to open, so
the van will think its cold longer, and run rich longer.. so fuel mileage goes
down.. anyone else run a lower temp t-stat in their van?? experiences?
ideas? thanks...

chris

TJ Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FC_wanderlodge
FAVOR website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon

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