If the thermostat is open all the time, the cooling system is not coping.
This would imply that the system needs to be upgraded. Possibly a thicker
radiator will assist. Compare the thickness on a car which has air
conditioning with the same car which doesn't. Air conditioning rads are
usually one row thicker. You could do the same by recoring with the high
efficiency core and by specifying a thicker one.
I would add a sealed cooling system tank - such as used on modern vehicles
which would allow the catchment and return of lost fluid. I have done this
on my B in addition to the upgraded rad. Moving more air through the rad
with electric fans is of dubious value as the fans themselves tend to
restrict the airflow. I tried this approach on another vehicle with
negative results.
One successful mod which I have seen is on a Sunbeam Tiger owned by a
friend of mine. He uses an asymmetrical Volvo fan. The fan creates a
superior air flow compared to the stock 4 blade fan. The Volvo fan has 5
blades arranged asymmetically. They are made of nylon and readily
available in wrecking yards. I am not sure what would be involved in
fitting one to an MG but it shouldn't be impossible. Again, removal of the
thermostat can result in premature failure of the engine and certainly
inefficient operation, due to allowing the engine to run below its normal
operating temperature during most of its running time - except when it's
very hot outside.
John McEwen
>I know that the thermostat allows the engine to heat up faster when it's
>started cold, but is it really true that it also acts to help cool the
>water if the engine's too hot? I would think that if coolant were kept in
>the radiator longer to allow it to cool the water in the block would also
>stay around longer and get too hot. Not to mention the fact that the
>thermostat would have to close when the water got too hot, and I don't
>think they work that way.
>
>Don't get me wrong, however: I agree that removing the thermostat is not a
>good idea. If it's hot outside, the thermostat will simply stay open all
>the time, acting like it's not there anyway. My DPO had installed a gutted
>thermostat and the car took forever to warm up (and never did warm up
>completely if it was cool outside) until I discovered the problem and
>replaced the thermostat.
>
>Mike
>'74 B roadster
>
>----------
>> ... The purpose of a
>> thermostat is to retain water in the radiator until it has had a chance
>to
>> cool, and conversely to retain water in the block until it has had a
>chance
>> to heat. This tends to keep the operating temperature of the car within
>an
>> efficient range. In cold weather and during warmups, the thermostat
>> permits a quicker warmup and allows more efficient heater operation. In
>> summer, it allows the radiator time to do its work.
>>
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