Section : Cooling

Thermostat

Posted By : Jason Alexander, 24-Jun-2003, 09:30pm

• Thermostat

  Posted By : Adrian Lee, 24-Jun-2003, 11:10pm

  Yes you do otherwise the engine will not warm up properly,will use more liquid gold(i.e petrol) and will run like a bag of baba.............i`m sure others know more about the inherent faults of running a cold engine? but put a new thermostat in ,they ain`t expensive.
  
  P.S. When i worked in Namibia/Saudi we never put thermo`s in any of the plant machines we ran .........but it was a tad hotter over there

  • Thermostat

    Posted By : Mike Peake, 27-Jun-2003, 01:32pm

    I agree! need a thermostat in uk!

    • Thermostat

      Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 30-Jun-2003, 07:12pm

      Yep, I agree - if the thermostat is meant to be there then it's for a reason discovered by better men than I, so keep one fitted!! However, if you really want the bother then fit a cooler one for the Summer to keep the engine slightly cooler then revert to standard for Winter again. I still think that cooling should be controlled by the radiator so if you want, fit either an uprated rad or an electric fan. Any radiator recorer can fit a modern and uprated core which will look standard but works wonders in modern day traffic conditions.

      • Thermostat

        Posted By : John Davies, 30-Jun-2003, 11:45pm

        All,
        The presence, or not, of a thermostat is an economy/efficiency issue - it may be omitted if that is not a problem, for instance for racing/rallying etc. Then, optimum cooling is desired and stuff the economy.
        
        However, I have been told (I have no evidence) that without a thermostat, and while revving a four cylinder engine to the 'nuts-dropping-off' point (like the race Spitfires do), cavitation becomes an issue. This is ultralow pressure behind the vanes of the water pump, that allows microscopic bubbles to appear and collapse. Unexpectedly, this can be enormously damaging to the pump vanes, eroding them and releasing small metal particles.
        
        The compromise is to retain the thermostat 'body' and remove the temperature sensitive part. The 'stat becomes an inert orifice, exerting a small backpressure on the pump, to inhibit cavitation with minimal flow resistance.
        
        The ultimate modification is to fit an electric water pump and electric, not mechanical, thermostatic switch. The electric pump turns at a preset speed, not one dictated by the engine speed, so cavitation will not occur, and the minimal resistance to flow is achieved.
        
        Probably more than most need or want to know, but I thought I'd mention it.
        John

        • Thermostat

          Posted By : Adrian Lee, 01-Jul-2003, 01:26am

          WOW

        • Thermostat

          Posted By : Jason Alexander, 03-Jul-2003, 09:46pm

          To All who replied,
          Thank you all for your advice, the general feeling is stick the thermostat back in, so this I will do. I have acquired from a friend a replacement rad which I hope will rectify the problem with my overheating.I have also purchased a Pacet electric fan and a thermostatic switch which should all keep the temperture down.I will let you know ;- )
          Jason