here's what I like..
the 87 C 'stat for winter, when you want better heater performance and
the engine running nicely warm  ( for better fuel economy )

and the 80 C in summer, with Water Wetter for when things want to run
hotter.

re the cooler rad fan switch..
I have never found the need for one.
I wouldn't want my rad fan coming on at every  time the coolant gets a
little  hotter than usual.

As long as it works when it should.
I expect the rad fan to come on somewhat above t-stat regulated temp ..
say about 195 F .

scott
turbovans

On 5/24/2012 4:47 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
> On 05/24/2012 03:42 PM, David Beierl wrote:
>
> "Unlike the cooler thermostat which I think can be actively
> harmful to the engine,[...]"
>
> I've retitled this thread so as not to hijack the original.
>
> The OP was asking about the fan switch on the radiator, but it brings up
> an issue I am trying to sort out. I may have asked this before but I
> don't think it has been settled in my mind.
>
> Back in 2007 a vendor shipped me the lower-temp thermostat along with
> the water pump I was replacing on my 1.9. I didn't notice until
> everything was put back together then I saw the temp gauge running just
> to the left of the LED. I contacted the vendor and he said he had done
> me a favor, that it would benefit the engine.
>
> So for about five years I've been running with that cooler thermostat.
>
> But I read here, frequently, that it's not a good idea. (This does beg
> the question why VW made the lower-temp part.)
>
> But when I asked both of the well-regarded shops here (Steve's Place and
> Old Volks Home) about swapping in the higher temp one, they both gave me
> the same answer, which was along the lines of, "Why would you want to do
> that? VW issued the higher temp one to comply with Cali emissions
> standards, but the engine lasts longer with the lower temp one."
>
> So, how's a girl to know?
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> Bend, Ore.
>