Hi Rocket..
it 'depends'.
I wouldn't say they did you a favor especially...but read on.

Generally ...I will always go for having it run fully up to temp ..
which is around 180F and the 87 C t-stat gives you that.
Generally ..
'warmer is better' .
In the winter, warmer is better for sure.
Better fuel economy too slightly.

you do no have to remove the water pump to change the t-stat on a 1.9 wbxr.
the t-stat cover will, or 'should' come off from the underside.
two 10mm hex head bolts.
'sometimes' ....the cover may be restricted by the exhaust pipe there.
I have ground a bit of material off the edge of some 1.9 wbxr t-stat covers
just to address that.
Your milage may vary on that one.

I would agree the engine t will last longer running a little cooler.
Running it hotter is better for emissions and fuel economy.

For sure, in the winter I don't like to see them running on the cool side at
all.
scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 8:12 PM
Subject: Thermostats [Was: Spooked!]

> On Fri, 2011-06-03 at 20:59 -0500, Tom Hargrave wrote:
>
>> A cooler thermostat is a quick fix for a lot of ails but it rarely solves
>> anything.
>>
>> A lower temperature thermostat will open sooner causing the engine to run
>> cooler & consume more gas. It will also cause the engine to wear out
>> faster,
>> again because it's running cooler.
>
>
> Okay, so this brings up something I'm wondering about.
>
> A while back, after replacing the thermostat in my 1984 1.9L, I was
> surprised to see that the temp gauge was reading to the left of the
> lamp, not centered on it, as I was accustomed to.
>
> I asked the vendor (Bus Depot? Van Again? -- don't recall) what kind of
> thermostat they sent, and they said they sent the lower temperature 80C
> one, instead of the 87C one. As a favor.
>
> I really didn't want to take the darn water pump out to replace the
> thing so I've had it in there since.
>
> I asked Steve, of Steve's Place, here in Bend, Ore., what he thought and
> he said, "the higher temp one was to pass emissions in California. The
> engine will last longer with the lower temp one."
>
> Well, I didn't know so I set that matter aside.
>
> Earlier this year, I took the van to Gary Young, of Young's Ole Volks
> Home (also Bend, Ore.) and asked him the same question. "Lower temp one
> is better for the engine," he said.
>
> Gary has a decent reputation as a mechanic.
>
> So, while camping this week, I'm cleaning out the parts bin and find two
> thermostats: an 80C one, and an 87C one. Causing me to wonder about this
> subject once again. Set them aside to trigger a post to this group.
>
> Into your lap I toss this.
>
> Sign me as "puzzled," someone who does not know who to believe.
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel