> at least it wasn't the Vanagon).  Also, thermostats have a bad habit of
> getting 'lazy', i.e. they  open too soon (or actually never completely close
> when cold) and the engine consequently starts taking a l.o.n.g time to warm
> up.  Keep track of what your gauge is telling you, believe it, & replace the
> thermostat as soon as it starts getting lazy (cheap,~ $10, & can be done on
> a Vanagon in ~ 1/2 hour).
> 
This is an interesting point - I'm now wondering if my Jetta TD has a 
"lazy" thermostat. I changed it a few months back from an 87deg C 
german stock one to an 80deg C, aftermarket model, since the turbo 
seemed to heat up the engine far too fast on hills. It now seems to 
take *much* longer to warm up, and occasionally sticks at ~ 3/4 gauge 
for no apparent reason, then drops to 1/2. Hmmm. 
Any reason not to re-use a stock thermostat after, say 100k? 
(replacement german ones are ~ $25 around here)

 
Shawn & Janis Wright
'88 Westy (336k) '85 Jetta TD (361k)
VWnut@smus.bc.ca (swright@smus.bc.ca)
http://www.islandnet.com/~swright/vw.html