1972nail wrote:I fitted one to my OHC engine. I looked at Kenlow ones but decided to fit a cheap eBay one. By my reckoning I could replace a broken cheap one several times over for the for the price of a Kenlow. So far it has lasted 5 years trouble free.
I have had a similar conversation regarding the thermostat on my "modern" Audi, with the general forum consensus being "fit a genuine Audi 'stat". My argument is (a) Audi don't make thermostats themselves, so you're only getting someone else's part in an Audi box, and (b) Audi want the best part of £40 for a thermostat and O-ring, versus £6 from a motor factor. As I don't pay labour to swap it, just the hassle, I can do almost seven cheapo ones for the same cost, so I'm not going to swallow the extra just for a fancy box. Oh, and for fact-fans - the thermostat in my "modern" Audi is the QTH102, 88-degree stat, same as it is in the Firenza. Last time I swapped it I was going to use one of the several spares I have for that, but I chickened out at the last minute and bought a motor factor one.
1972nail wrote:At home I had look at the installation to check it over. Hmmm... the setting on the thermostat was up at max. I had the car out at a show a week or two earlier with the bonnet partially open. The thermostat knob is right beside the radiator in full view. I can only think that some idiot thought it funny to turn it up full. It will be re positioned when I get time.
That's a similar story to a DSG member who showed his HS Chevette somewhere, and noticed in the queue on the way out of the venue that it was getting hotter than usual, only to find that the Kenlowe adjuster had been turned up to the maximum. The adjuster is a bit visible on Kenlowe as I recall, is there a way to remove the black plastic dial from the switch easily, and keep it somewhere in the car? You still have it if you need to adjust it while out, but it's not so tempting.