water, electron problems

[Joe.Doty at lcnetwork.com (Joe Doty)]

Help me, list.

1. Can someone refresh my memory as to what the actual water temps on
the gauge of my mk2 16v might be?  I hate VW for not putting at least
one number on it.  I also hate them for making halfway on the gauge a
normal running temp.  Why is this?  All the mk1s I've ever driven spend
most of their time at about 1/4 or 1/3.  The gauge on mine points
straight up on the freeway in 55-60 degree weather.  The car has a 180
degree thermostat, and I deleted the oil warmer.

2. When I was driving home and got off the freeway, my voltage gauge
pegged past 16 volts, the dash lights got brighter, and the oil pressure
light came on (oil pressure gauge said everything was normal).  What the
hell?  When I started it up this morning to go to work, it did the same
thing until I got on the freeway.  When driving around town it does it
intermittently.  Do I need a voltage regulator?

(story part)
I think I have FINALLY figured out how to properly fill a 16v with
coolant.  I took someone on the list's advice about drilling a small
hole in the thermostat.  I filled it up as much as I could through the
upper radiator hose into the head.  Then I started up and let it get hot
enough to where the thermostat should open.  At this point I could feel
the top of the radiator was cold (air in it).  I shut it off, bled all
the air out of the upper radiator hose and then refilled it.

Joe