Sounds like a bad gauge or sensor. When the fan turns on, most likely it
is hot as the fan sensor turns the fan on when the radiator return needs
it. That is normally the coolest liquid in the cooling system.

The gauge is reading the hottest flowing through or exiting the engine.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Matthew Snook
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 4:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

I have no clue what thermostat is in mine.  I just bought an '84 Westy
with
a nice running 1.9 that runs pretty cool.  At highway speed the needle
rarely leaves the lower mark.  Sitting at idle, it will go up to where the
needle almost touches the little red blinker (which is not blinking...:))
Even on the longest climb I normally do (3000 ft +) coming up out of
Pendleton the guage doesn't move a lot.

Is there a problem with running that cool, however cool that is?

Matt

-----Original Message-----
From: Vdub Guy
Subject: Re: 2.1wbx into 85 GL

..Also, following Jim's write up, I used the cooler thermostat, and my
gauge rarely ever reads above the 1/4 mark.    Jeff