thanks mark...i concur about the running too low when driving part..    stay
tuned for a IR heat gun report..
thanks everyone.. will keep y'all posted.

chris

In a message dated 3/27/06 3:29:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,
drillock@earthlink.net writes:

> No, that is not normal. As I said here 2 months ago when you first
> started this thread, you have a wrong notion of what is normal based on
> what your other van did. The temp gauge needle should be near or  right
> against the bottom edge of the led, or even higher, as you go down the
> road with the engine warmed up. Obviously, the outside air temp makes
> some difference but the whole purpose of the thermostat is to keep the
> engine temps fairly stable under all conditions and in the range for
> best engine operation and lowest wear. Yours are not, since you have a
> thermostat that keeps the coolant flowing too much a lot of the time.
> Your engine is running too cool as you cruise on the highway and then
> comes up to normal while you are stationary for a time with the engine
> running.
>
> Look at the parts data for other Audi and VW vehicles of the era ours
> are from. You will find that 87 degree thermostats prevail, regardless
> of engine type, vehicle type, turbo or not, etc. There are a few times
> where an 80 degree thermostat is called for in certain climates or load
> conditions. There are lots of examples where larger capacity radiators
> are available, second helper radiators are available, different fans or
> fan cowlings are available, all as options but with the same 87 degree
> thermostat. That should tell you something, hopefully.
>
> Mark
>
>
> JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:
>