Wahler Thermostat No Longer At Autozone?
 

I went to an Autozone store today. The "house brand" thermostats for 617 diesels used to be Wahler. It now appears it is a Moto-Rad. I didn't buy it.

Do I need to spend the $$ at the dealer for a Wahler brand. My previous 300D had the Wahler installed. No problem with Wahlers.

Bummer to hear that. It was nice to know that they actually had a "real" brand for thermo's there (though I don't do much shopping at AZ anyway.)

I just picked up a Wahler at autozone last wednesday. This is in MA.

No the only prob is that i was always at 80dC before, now it's more like 90+ and the needle jumps around alot. Should I be afraid?

Is the needle jumping rapidly or quickly when it moves, then its an electrical problem. Try a new temp sensor. Check the connection first.
If it just moves over a large range depending on the driving conditions then, If it is the normal range I noticed my new 240D doing this. If its a 300D/CD/TD mine is usually pretty steady. Then check you cooling system, all of it.

Dave

I replaced my thermost at at the same time that I flushed out my cooling system (and actually put coolant in; the previous owner was running it on water alone :eek: ) with a Wahler, and have noticed the same thing. Before the old thermostat died (would open at about 50°C), my needle stayed just a hair above 80°. Now, the needle goes all the way up to 90°C and fluctuates. Mine doesn't move wildly like an electrical problem, but I see it go around between 90° and just under 100°. The thermostat had the nomber 80 stamped on it, implying that it was supposed to open at 80°...I'm wondering if maybe Wahler had a bad batch?

BTW, I also found that Autozone didn't have Wahler thermostats, and two dealers were all out...found a place called Kohlweiss Auto Parts that had it, but I'm also not 100% sure I trust them (I would have gotten the thermostat on Fastlane except that I really needed it ASAP).

The needle jumps around fairly rapidly. But it's only over 85 or so. And it only does it since the thermo replacement.

I heard that Moto-rad makes a failsafe thermostat.
If it fails it will fail when open and not closed.
This could save the engine from overheating.

I also have seen the guys at "shadetree mechanic,
crank and chrome,and twoguysgarage" use them.
They are ASE certified mechanics,not that that means
much since they(moto-rad)most likely are sponsors
for this show.

Louis.