Thermostat Shelf Life

[Tom]

I am fixing a coolant leak in the old Mercedes, which led me to change the water pump, thermostat, etc. I ordered a new thermostat and received the proper Wahler unit (very similar to a Porsche thermostat for cars of that era). I am a fan of Waller thermostats, but had to hunt this one down. It looks very well-made as expected, but it is stamped "made in W. Germany." So now I'm wondering if I should use it -- since that would make it at least 34 years old. I boiled it and it opened just fine. Should I use it?

[blueline]

Maybe it's really not that old. Is it at all possible that Waller just never updated their stamping dies? That is a possibility since the design is probably unchanged for a half-century plus.

I'd say go for it. (My untrained, inexpert 2¢.) After all, it's just a thermostat and you'll know if it fails.

Then again, if the cardboard box that it came in is yellowed and crumbling...