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Silverghost500
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1089
Location: Atlanta, GA
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 Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2023 5:44 am Post subject: Temperature Gauge Needle Drop Due To Thermostat |
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The past couple of months the temp gauge needle would drop if driving the van in ambient temps 45 degrees F or lower. I'd get limited heat in the dash, and I noticed my fuel mileage was worse than ever.
After some research here on Samba I decided to replace my coolant thermostat for my 2.1 WBX. I'd not done that, and suspected it'd never been done before. I had a 87c thermostat and O-ring as my new parts spares I carry in the van.
Looking at the thermostat that came out I suspect it's the original from 1986!
With the thermostat replaced the engine gets to temperature quicker, there's consistent heat in the dash heater, and it appears my fuel mileage has improved, as much as it can with a WBX.
Before the thermostat swap when the engine would get to temp the needle would sit right in the middle or just below the LED in the gauge. Now it sits above he LED.
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1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A converversion-Road Testing Phase
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:09 am Post subject: Re: Temperature Gauge Needle Drop Due To Thermostat |
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new thermostats can vary wildly in terms of the temp at which they begin to open as well as the temp at which they are fully open. not to mention the size and length-from-body of the bypass disc.
i pan test each new or used thermostat and write the opening temp in Sharpie on the body. currently, on my 87 driven year round in cold temps, i'm running one that has tested on warmish end of things for better heat out of the core.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Silverghost500
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2018
Posts: 1089
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2023 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Temperature Gauge Needle Drop Due To Thermostat |
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No question. I just wanted to post the before and after experience of the thermostat replacement.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A converversion-Road Testing Phase
3-Speed Automatic
Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA |
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kaalualu
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2011
Posts: 274
Location: Big Island, Hawaii
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| Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Temperature Gauge Needle Drop Due To Thermostat |
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Thank you for posting that.
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'84 Transporter 16" CLK's/LED's/ AT's/Mansi injectors
'86 Wolfey Weekender Westfalia AT's/otherwise stock
Sold-'82 TinTop Diesel |
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