The reason cooler stats for hotter climes and vice-versa was recommended by
the factory relates to how the engine is cooled. The radiator is not the
only heat exchanger - the whole block and all the hoses are too. In high
ambient temperature conditions this 'extra' cooling is reduced, and so the
engine internals are hotter, even though the average temp at the stat is the
same as normal. The same goes for freezing conditions where super-cooling
of the block means that internal temps are lower. Changing the stat is
therefore an attempt to maintain 'normal' internal temps in very hot and
very cold climes.
PaulH.
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
To: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: 18 October 1999 22:44
Subject: Re: Decent Heat
>I actually don't understand why people use 165 degree thermostats in the
>summer. It seems completely pointless, since the normal operating
>temperature of the engine is 180-190. The lower-rated thermostat just
>opens sooner (one minute instead of one-and-a-half minutes, maybe) and
>then stays open all the time -- it doesn't make the engine run any
>cooler. So why bother with it
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