[Vwdiesel] Thermostat for 1982 NA diesel

[ken1]

Finally got room in my shop to attack my caddy's cooling system problem. Before I started on the task, I ran a combustion gas tester and found not gases in the coolant, and not spurting; in fact, I got a steady stream after squeezing the upper radiator hose a few times. I drained the coolant and removed the thermostat housing and found this:  http://i511.photobucket.com/albums/s358/ktzstuf/ktzforum/locked_open.jpg. 
Weird thing, I bought the thermostat somewhere, it is a "no name" vented thermostat and you can see the bobble in the vent hole in the picture. It is indeed stuck wide open. At least I understand the cooling system a bit better now. I have not performed the screwdriver test and do not know what type of impeller is in it. If the the screwdriver test shows good and the impeller is cast iron, then I may just replace the thermostat and button it up. Thoughts? ken   
----- Original Message -----
From: LBaird119 at aol.com
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Sent: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:54:46 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Thermostat for 1982 NA diesel

In a message dated 2/17/2011 9:10:02 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
ktzkarz at embarqmail.com writes:

> I think my thermostat is stuck in the closed position as I run out of 
> coolant in the expansion tank after about 6-7 miles of driving.
> 
> 

  Sounds more like a leak in the system (head gasket?) than a stat.  
Unless the system's not properly filled, the stat opens, coolant level 
drops, still is low, heats up, boils off and cycle repeats.  
  They like the hotter the better. I ran the ninty something stat for 
a while but if the coolant gets a little low, anti freeze ratio is off, 
etc, it's just too easy to blow the head gasket so I dropped back to 
the lower 180-ish one for that reason.  Doesn't feel as happy but
I am.
  Try filling it up through the top hose, into the engine, then start it 
up, cap off, and at a fast idle run it up to operating temp.  Feel the 
rad hoses to be sure things start circulating.  If they don't after 5  
minutes.  Shut off, wait a few minutes for coolant to work its way 
around, and try again.  If that doesn't do it, cap and drive a few 
hundred yards and slowly remove cap and repeat.
  If coolant starts blooping or blowing out, or you see very little 
coolant (mostly bubbles or air) coming out the small, return line, 
you have a blown head gasket.
    Loren
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-- 
1982 caddy 1.6L NA running
1967 convertible bug running
1980 caddy project