Engine never warms up

[JOHN COOKSON]

I've Been Around This Mulberry Bush.......

After exploring every avenue suggested, and some, I took the thermostat and plugged the 1/4" hole and drilled an 1/8" hole in the flange. The motor heated to 180 with the bypass fully open. Closed it about 5 degrees and.......wait for it! The temp dropped to 155-165 and stay there at cruising speed for an hour. I will monitor the temp but this looks like a solution to too much water flow. As long as the little hole doesn't plug, it should be good.

My RWC A4 was running at 180*-190*. Clamping the bypass hose brought the temp down to ~140* so I ordered the Moyer bypass restriction kit. After I installed the restrictor and valve from the kit the temp wouldn't even get up to 120*. By removing the restrictor and keeping the valve wide open I now run at ~140*. Apparently the wide open valve provides the correct amount of restriction for my engine.
Each A4 seems to be different in the amount of restriction needed.

TRUE GRIT