The air cooled thermostats do not require testing. They vacuum to keep them
closed and the failure mode is for the solder to melt and let air in. They
then stay fully expanded. This type of failure is a sign of an overheating
engine. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Evan Mac Donald
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 5:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Thermostat Woes

All right volks - 

I have two thermostats that I am attempting to test. One is still installed
in the t-stat housing, but the housing is off of the engine. The other is a
brand-new-from-the-box Wahler. Both are 87��C. I�am trying to check them,
using the hot water method. 

The problem is that I am not seeing any difference in either one, from cold,
to hot (93� C), and back to cold. None of the plates move to unblock or
reblock any of the passages, nor seem to change in relation to each other.

Are they BOTH dead, or have I missed something? It should be fairly obvious,
shouldn't it? The movements are not glacial, or the engines would overheat,
right? 

�Evan Mac Donald 

"...in the absence of facts, myth rushes in, the kudzu of history."
-Stacy Schiff