In a message dated 96-04-26 20:01:20 EDT, msp@pinkstone.com (Mark Pinkstone)
writes:

>experience with this, as it applies to a "catastrophic loss of coolant"
>(split lower radiator hose) at highway speeds.  It would seem that, once the
>coolant is missing from the cooling system, the only thing that the
>temperature sensor has to work with is the air that replaced the coolant as
>a result of the loss.   This resulted in the temperature gauge reading just
>a little of the right of center (normal to warm) while the engine was busy
>burning off any paint and/or oil that may have adhered to its exterior.

I had this appen to an '81 diesel Rabbit.  Lost the lower hose, temp guage
never left center not even after it got so hot that it died.  This was on
I-70 between Columbus and Kirkersville.  Blew the head gasket.  This was at
150,000 miles.  I replaced it and went another 100,000 before I had to
replace it again.

Brad
'72 Westfalia
'87 Syncro GL (The Rabbit was the trade in for this at 271,000+)