Correct me if I am wrong but does not lowering the system pressure also
lower the boiling temp of the coolant? Should this be seen as desireable?

----- Original Message -----
From: Steven X. Schwenk <Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 1999 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: Lowering Cooling Sys pressure

> The  lower temp fan switch in conjunction with the lower thermostat
results in
> lower operating pressures because the thermostat opens sooner (cooler) and
the
> fan kicks on sooner, with the end result that pressure does not build as
high
> before the thermostsat opens and never gets as high as with the higher
temp fan
> switch because the max temp before the fan kicks in is lower.  The
operating
> temp. remains within specs, but never gets or stays as high as with the
> higher-temped fan switch. This is an OLD trick taught me by a bona fide vw
guru
> hermit type with permanently stained hands from changing CVs and head
gaskets!
>
> Mark McCulley wrote:
>
> > Steve,
> >
> > Installing a cooler thermostat will not lower the system pressure. The
> > pressure is controlled by the pressure cap on the coolant reservoir.
> >
> > MM
> >
> > >From: "Steven X. Schwenk" <Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
> > >
> > >I would put the cooler thermostat AND the cooler fan temp.
> > >sensor/switch (screws
> > >into the radiator) in.  Doing this will lower the pressure
> > >in your system while
> > >keeping temp within specs...this helps to put less pressure
> > >on the head gaskets
> > >and thereby prolong life.  There are only 2 thermostats and
> > >2 fan temp
> > >sensors/switches...get lower temp ones for both.....if the
> > >guy denies there are
> > >two or does tries to sell you anything else, he knpows
> > >nothing and move on.
> > >
> > >Joel Shortlidge wrote:
> > >
> > > > Thanks allot You saved me some MONEY and that is a big thing to a
> > > > college student!  Did they have to order most of these or did they
have
> > > > them in stock???  Would you recommend changing the thermostat while
i am
> > > > at it????
> > > >
> > > > Steven X. Schwenk wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Joel Shortlidge wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >   I need to know where that diagram of the cooling hoses for the
> > >syncro
> > > > > > is!!!  It has the Napa to VW conversion correct???
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Joel
> > > > > > Replacing distribution unit!
> > > > >
> > > > > _____________________________________________________________
> > > > > Jim Davis ' Generic Collant Hose List:
> > > > > << Don't everybody forget Jim Davis's/syncrohead excellent post
(last
> > > > > year?)
> > > > >  detailing how to get all these hoses cheap by using off the shelf
> > >hoses in
> > > > >
> > > > >  the local auto parts store originally meant for other cars. >>
> > > > > Here it is again:
> > > > > ======================================================
> > > > > While replacing the engine in my 87 Syncro, I thought it would be
a
> > >good
> > > > > idea
> > > > > to replace the hoses in the engine compartment.  A couple had been
> > > > > replaced in the last couple years, so I didn't plan on replacing
them
> > > > > again.
> > > > > Note that more than you might suspect are Syncro specific hoses.
> > > > > Here's what I replaced & the prices from the FLVWD & FLAPS:
> > > > > 251-121-102       42.90
> > > > > Left/front port on plastic coolant manifold to right radiator
pipe.
> > > > > Used a (D)70684 that cost $6.99.
> > > > > 251-121-072       37.00
> > > > > Bottom/right of thermostat housing to lower crossover pipe.
> > > > > Used part of a (E)71228 that cost $15.99
> > > > > Other part of (E)71228 used for 251-121-103
> > > > > 251-121-073       42.90
> > > > > Top of thermostat housing to upper crossover pipe.
> > > > > Used a 71315 that cost $5.99
> > > > > 251-121-103       42.90
> > > > > Lower crossover tube to rear/left port on plastic coolant
manifold.
> > > > > Used part of a (E)71228 that cost $15.99
> > > > > Other part of (E)71228 used for 251-121-072
> > > > > 251-121-072-A    42.90
> > > > > Right/rear port on plastic coolant manifold to port on front of
right
> > >head.
> > > > >
> > > > > Used a 70826 that cost $6.49
> > > > > 025-121-073-H    22.10
> > > > > Left side of thermostat housing to big pipe on left side of
engine.
> > > > > Used a (B)70541 that cost $7.49
> > > > > 025-121-058-H    16.00
> > > > > Upper port on primary coolant reservoir to coolant tube that runs
> > >around
> > > > > the
> > > > > left perimeter of the engine compartment.
> > > > > Used a 80400 that cost $5.93
> > > > > 025-121-058-D    $15.60
> > > > > Oil cooler tube to tube leading to thermostat housing.
> > > > > No replacement looked for.
> > > > > 025-121-058-J    $13.05
> > > > > Water pump to metal tube.
> > > > > No replacement looked for.
> > > > > 025-121-058-G    $15.60
> > > > > Metal tube from water pump to oil cooler.
> > > > > No replacement looked for.
> > > > > 025-121-058-E    $11.65
> > > > > Small metal tube above left head to port on rear of thermostat
> > >housing.
> > > > > No suitable replacement found.
> > > > > 025-121-108-H    $21.90
> > > > > Lower port on primary coolant reservoir to metal tube on rear of
left
> > >head.
> > > > >
> > > > > No suitable replacement found
> > > > > 251-121-062    $49.35
> > > > > Upper crossover tube to left radiator pipe.
> > > > > No suitable replacement found
> > > > > N-901-287-03    $5.45
> > > > > >From flange on right head to tube under crankshaft pulley.
> > > > > No replacement looked for.
> > > > > All of the replacement hoses were made in the USA by Road King
> > >(although
> > > > > the
> > > > > application guide doesn't have any brand identification on it).  I
> > >bought
> > > > > them at TRAK Auto.  I think that Pep Boys carries the same brand.
> > > > > Since the application guide at the FLAPS didn't list anything for
> > >Vanagons,
> > > > >
> > > > > I
> > > > > found these replacement hoses by holding the old hose in my hand
and
> > > > > walking
> > > > > up & down the hose aisle looking for hoses or parts of hoses that
were
> > > > > close.
> > > > >  I only used part of each of the replacement hoses & just cut off
the
> > >parts
> > > > >
> > > > > that didn't match the VW hose.
> > > > > Some of the lower priced hoses, I didn't bother searching for a
FLAPS
> > > > > replacement for, partly because I was lazy & partly because I was
> > >running
> > > > > out
> > > > > of time.  I suspect I could have saved quite a bit of money on
those
> > >too.
> > > > > Total VW price of hoses that I found a replacement for: $246.70
> > > > > Total FLAPS price of replacement hoses: $48.88 (not much more than
1
> > >VW
> > > > > hose)
> > > > > Price savings: $197.82
> > > > > VW originals cost over 400% more!
> > > > > Total cost of hoses purchased at VW & FLAPS: $379.30
> > > > > Total cost would have been $577.12 if I'd bought all VW hoses!
> > > > > $577 + one or two hose that I did not replace would easily be over
> > >$600.  I
> > > > >
> > > > > bet you didn't know that you had over $600. worth of hoses in your
> > >engine
> > > > > compartment, did you? And I didn't even replace the radiator hoses
up
> > >front
> > > > >
> > > > > or the hoses to the heaters......yet.
> > > > > Those of you without Syncros might look into your engine
compartment
> > >and
> > > > > say
> > > > > "crossover tubes! - what is he talking about?".  These are Syncro
> > >specific
> > > > > beacuse the Syncro's gas tank placement gets in the way of the
> > >"normal"
> > > > > hose
> > > > > routing.  In a Syncro the two radiator pipes have to come up to
the
> > >engine
> > > > > compartment on the right side and the "crossover" through metal
pipes
> > >to
> > > > > get
> > > > > to the thermostat area.
> > > > > I'll definitely post a message to the list if I have any problems
with
> > > > > these
> > > > > hoses, but I suspect that it will be years away if I do.
> > > > > Jim Davis
> > > > > 87 GL Syncro (Hans)
> > > > > 88 GL Wolfsburg (Heidi)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> >
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> > > > >
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