Greg:
I am not speaking from personal experience here, so please bear
with me.
I *THOUGHT* that the thermostat was not just for warming up the
oil,
but also to make sure it didn't get *TOO COOL*. Motor oil has an optimum
operating temperature range, for both lubricity and viscosity. If the
oil is
too cool, the lubricity is lower and wear is accelerated. Also, if the
oil
is not fully warmed up, moisture tends to accumulate and form acids,
which
also accelerate engine wear. If your oil cooler is properly designed, it
will have a surplus of cooling capacity and will tend to over cool the
oil
under most circumstances. A thermostat therefore becomes desirable
unless
you are racing and the engine will only be used under maximum load.
If memory serves, the optimum operating temperature is 225-250F,
but
my memory is notoriously unreliable. If you don't run a thermostat, the
oil might not reach optimum temperature, especially in cold climates. At
least, this is what I recall. If nothing else, Roger Williams strongly
recommends a thermostat in his book on restoring the TR6.
So, has my memory done it to me yet again, or is this a
consideration?
Cheers,
Vance
------------------------------
Cogito Ergo Zoom
(I think, therefore I go fast)
TR6 Web page: http://home.comcast.net/~v.navarrette/
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Greg Dito
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 6:08 AM
To: Campsmith, Michael; 6-Pack
Subject: Re: oil cooler thermostat
Mike,
I would agree with Rick. I will be installing an oil cooler for my
modified engine and do not plan on using a thermostat. The only
rationale for this device is to close off the cooler path when the oil
is cold so it warms up faster. But once the engine (and oil) is at
operating temperature the thermostat serves no function. Especially in
Atlanta.
Greg Dito
CD6250L
> What are the thoughts regarding the need for a thermostat for your oil
> cooler system?
> Michael Campsmith
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