At 10:49 AM 11/11/01 -0500, peabodydc@prodigy.net wrote:
>.....
>As I understand it, the thermostat is mostly
>beneficial if your running in winter because it gets
>the engine warmed-up quicker (heater core).
>
>I still get an accurate engine temperature reading on
>the gauge, so it hasn't been an issue of missing the
>true temp. Just to be sure, I placed a thermometer on
>the engine block and drove for an hour. The two temps
>(temp gauge & thermometer) were within 3-4 degrees of
>each other I'm guessing this is due to mechanical vs.
>mercury thermostat.
>
>It worked for me and thought I'd pass it along.
>
David,
Terry Tanner wrote a great article about keeping the car cool:
"Cool is the Rule, Cooling System, Thermostat, Coolant, Air, Engine
Fan & Water Pump" in the July 2000 issue, pages 8-11.
While you have a point about the thermostat helping the engine come up
to temp quicker, it also helps regulate the flow of the water and it
tries to keep the eng. temp. at a constant level. The general rule of
thumb is that the thermostat should be left in. Without it to restrict
the fluid flow, the water can circulate too fast and not spend enough time
in the engine to pick up heat, and not enough time in the radiator to
give up the heat and can cause over heating. As I said this is a rule of
thumb. However, if you have removed it and it works for you that's great.
You mentioned 70 deg in Aug. That's an unusually cool day in Aug. here.
Our temps are usually in the 90s to 100.
John
John T. Blair WA4OHZ email: jblair@exis.net
Va. Beach, Va Phone: (757) 495-8229
48 TR1800 48 #4 Midget 65 Morgan 4/4 Series V
75 Bricklin SV1 77 Spitfire 71 Saab Sonett III
65 Rambler Classic
Morgan: www.team.net/www/morgan
Bricklin: www.bricklin.org
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