[Vwdiesel] Thermostats for beginners. ( Jeff Rakus needs help )

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  Easy to test. Pan, stove top, candy thermometer or better and heat some 
water.  Put in the thermostat, keep stirring and watch to see at what temp 
it opens (as you heat it).  Look for sticky operation, wron temp, failure 
to return but don't way overheat or it may not return properly anyway.
  Don't know where Federated would be made.  I just look to make sure 
it has as big of openings as the OEM, (usually Walther I think) stats.
I don't like the idea of using some of them where the opening in the stat 
is about half the area of the originals!  In cold climates I like something 
a bit over 180F too.
  Old waterpump doesn't mean it'll leak as a newer one doesn't mean it 
won't.  Sort of a when in doubt, replace unless you don't mind doing it 
again sooner or later.  Then again, no gauarantees the old one wouldn't 
have lasted as long as the new one will.  ;-)  If you do a pump, be sure 
it has a cast impeller not a stamped steel one.
     Loren