Hi Chris

Sorry. But I have to disagree here.  Running you vehicle too cold can and
will do as much damage to the engines as running them too hot.  Coming from
Australia we are well aware of over heated engines in our hot climate.  An
I.C.E. has to reach operating temperatures in order to combat excessive wear
of a colder running engine.   The colder an engine is running the more
likely it will suffer from worn rings.  The engineers who build these motors
decide upon the most efficient engine temperature and apart from a few
degrees difference they insist those temps remain constant.

Once I completely removed the t-stat from a 302 V8 Block Ford because of
overheating.  I had the car from new and treated it like a new baby.  I
learnt my lesson- not only did it run like a pig I was forced to replace
worn rings after a very short time.

Lesson run them too cold and suffer the consequences.

Ray Hunnam

-Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sent: Sunday, 26 March 2006 4:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: running hot....ideas? UP DATE running a 70o t-stat instead
of the 87o one

In a message dated 3/25/06 11:35:33 AM Eastern Standard Time,
drillock@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

> Yeah, screw up the engine instead of fixing the gauge reading, assuming
> it is really even out of typical in the first place. Makes sense, if you
> want a new engine anyway. Otherwise, yank that 70 degree crap right out.
> You can get away with an 80 degree, depending on climate and driving
> patterns but a 70 degree in NG, period. The 70 degree is made for people
> who want to hide a cooling problem to sell a defective car. In other
> words, for used car lots.
>
>

 how am i going to screw up the engine?     seems to me the cooler t-stat
would have less chance of overheating the motor, and running rich for longer
doesnt burn the pistons, running lean does..
 the temp gauge now runs about the same as my other 1.9L van.. it is still
cold here.. but the needle will reach the red dot if i let it idle...

chris