Even the Vanagon gauge is damped for a very slow response. Get fast acting
digital gauge in there and you watch temperature change with throttle
position and the thermostat-cooling system response to the heat load input.
For real fun, suddenly open the front heater valve and let that cold coolant
flow into the engine. Drops temp fast until the thermostat closes and lets
the heat buildup again.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
pickle vanagon
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 10:57 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Low Temp Radiator Thermo Switch "Better"?

>
>
> I think that people have gotten so used to the way the Toyotas and
> Hondas and Subarus run with the temp needle looking like it's painted
> on the gauge until the system  runs out of cooling capacity that they
> get bothered with the way VW designed this.

This is a good point.  I hate how in new cars many of the gauges are
actually idiot lights, in that they're stabilized at some fixed position
within a very large range.  We should admit that new VW's seem to be like
this too.