Thermostats compatibility

[Zulfiqar]

My thermostat just took a ***e on me, its stuck closed - and blew my bypass pipe, cant find a VW thermostat here, and looking for matching parts, like something used in BMW, Mercedes Fiat, Ford etc..

The BMW parts shop here is out of Tstats completely but by eyeballing the counter clerk said it does look like a BMW one.. So to buy it they will have to order it and I dont want to end up with a Tstat that cant fit.

So Anyone here chime in what Tstats can fit into a 1.6 waterpump

Im currently running without the stat but its forcing nearly 50% of the coolant to circulate from the bypass pipe and very little coolant flow to the rad, cant keep up highway speeds as it is heating up due to (path of least resistance law)

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Where's "here"? I'd recommend getting the correct Whaler stat. I got my 195F stat from Germanautoparts  and got it the next day UPS ground! Can't beat that eh?

[rabbitman]

Where's "here"?

Look under his name where it says "location"

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

ah-ha! what you didn't know is that I'm on my phone and the browser has limited functions where location, pics, search etc are not available. lol

[clbanman]

In the short term you could find a washer or make one that restricts most of the flow from running through the rad.  Old circle track trick.

[Torchd]

Hey Zulfiqar....

If you block the hose that goes from the water pump to the head you'll be sorted. Easiest way to do it is to get a wooden tab made and press it into the hose.

Or else I can send you a T.stat, I should have a good used one.

[Zulfiqar]

Hi man, I dont want to overcool the engine by pumping all the coolant through the rad - very very bad for your oil.. you need heat to steam off the H20 from oil. How about you send me that stat you have,, PM me we'll work something out.

[bajacalal]

I'm friends with the manager of an auto parts store. They can take a part number and produce a list of vehicles that require this part (not everybody at these stores knows how to do this).

If you want, I will ask them for this information when I go there. The problem is, this is not the local parts store in my town but one in the city where my parents live (45 minutes away by car) so I do not often go there. Also, the information will be for models/engines sold in the U.S. only.

[Zulfiqar]

Sure why not, it'll be a great resource.. Please do check next time you meet the manager..

[bajacalal]

Well, I had a look at this parts list, the same thermostat mostly fits mk1, mk2 & mk3 Volkswagens, of course. It seems like the thermostat is the same for mk2 models with gasoline or diesel, just as long as the same operating temperature is used (which should be stamped on the thermostat). For VWs it seems the thermostat is the same for those engines where it's mounted on the back side of the water pump.

The only other common cars (remember these are U.S. market cars only so no newer Fiats) I saw were the mid-1990s Volvo 850 DOHC inline-5 and Fords with the 2.8 V6 gas engine (this was a German designed/built engine) that came in 1980's ford cars and Ford Ranger pickup or Bronco II up to 1985.

The American made ones come at 180F or 195F and the German one said 87C is original which is about 190F (I would get this one) but all should fit. The Volvo one is supposed to be 92C ~198F but the dimensions appear to be the same and the American (Stant) 195F thermostat is supposed to be acceptable for all these.

The information confused me a bit, I hope it is correct. I did not see any cross references indicating Mercedes or BMW parts could be used (I think the operating temperatures are too different).