205F sounds pretty OK for a temperature.  The digital gauges that I
use show cooling systems in the 90 to 95C range and slightly over
100C if I push it really hard.  I have never seen two Vanagons with a
coolant gauge that reads the same.  Really, the coolant gauge
isn't very good as there is no temperature markings on it.  If it is
on the LED, what real temperature is it supposed to be?  They are
supposed to start flashing at 115C, but after many years of corrosion and
probably as sender replacement or two is the gauge seeing a valid signal
form the engine any more?  My rule of thumb is that it is used to
monitor abnormalties is the system and not necessarily the temperature of
the engine.

David Marshall

http://www.hasenwerk.ca

http://www.fastforward.ca

Box 4153, Quesnel BC, Canada
V2J 3J2

On Mon, September 17, 2007 08:31, John W. Parkins
wrote:
> I've been trying to debug a high temp problem with my 87
Westy for quite
> some time. The needle on the temp gauge in the
dash is reading past the
> 3/4
> mark, but I'm not
convinced that the van is running hot. Using an IR
> thermometer,
the left head reads 205 deg F. I take this temp where the
>
t-stat housing meets the head. The reading is for the aluminum head and

> NOT
> the plastic housing.
>
> Has
anyone else taken this temp? What do you get? Where was the needle
> pointing relative to the LED in the instrument cluster temp gauge
for the
> temperature you read?
>
> Many
thanks,
> JP
>