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.

__________________
84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

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.)

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

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?

__________________
1983 240D
www.againsttcpa.com
www.hydrogenaudio.org
www.ntfs.org

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

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

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 ) 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).

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

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

__________________
1983 240D
www.againsttcpa.com
www.hydrogenaudio.org
www.ntfs.org

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.