Michael,
Running without a thermostat won't do you too much harm. The purpose of
the thermostat is to prevent water from flowing when the engine is cold
- the only reason for this is to help the engine heat up quicker.
Having this port permanently closed causes problems - having it
permanently opened doesn't (except you have to keep the choke out for
longer - slightly worse fuel consumption).
A few years ago, I had a Vauxhall Viva. The thermostat was jammed open,
and I eventually got round to changing it. It was supposed to use a 80
degress (celcius) thermostat, so that's what I bought, and the engine
overheated. So I took it out and replaced it with a 75 degree
thermostat - and the engine still overheated. Eventually, I settled for
a 70 degree thermostat. The moral of the story - too low is better than
too high. But essentially, so long as the temperature guage stays
somewhere you're happy with, and there's no steam coming from the
engine, it's ok. (The temperatue, BTW, is the temperature at which the
thermostat opens - so it's better to have it open earlier, i.e. lower
temperature.)
As for spilling the anti-freeze into the engine - you might like to
consider changing the oil. I don't think it will do too much harm
(someone else, please feel free to correct me!) but it certainly won't
do it any good......
Good luck!
Dean Dashwood
'77 Spit 1500
>----------
>From: Michael Graziano[SMTP:mgrazian@ltcm.com]
>Sent: 26 April 1999 15:22
>To: 'Spitfires'
>Subject: Thermostat Differences and dumb things
>
>
>Hey all. Just a quick question, and a quick story.....
>
>1. WHat's the difference between a 160 degree and a 180 degree thermostat
>besides 20 degrees? i.e. which should be used when? And when I went to
>change mine, I found that the DPO didn't have one installed. Is this
>indicative of overheating problems?
>
>2. The quick story. Spent the weekend working on the car, getting ready
>for Moss' Britfest. I decided that the valve cover should be painted. So i
>take it off, and paint it. WHile it's drying, I decide to use the time and
>get some other things done. To make a long story short, I finally got
>around to putting in the 180 degree thermostat i bought (only one the store
>had). Open the spot where it goes and .... whoosh antifreeze spills right
>down the #1 valve push rod. Now what, I rush to put the thermostat in and
>get the water out, when I drop the lock washer for the thermostat housing.
>Plink, right into the hole where the connecting rod goes. Now what the hell
>was I to do. An hour later, and a long #12 solid copper wire with a little
>hook on it with the help of a mityvac to get the antifreeze out, and I was
>saved from removing my first head. Folks, it just doesn't pay to screw
>around doing anything else with that valve cover off. Lesson learned.
>
>Michael
>
>'78 Midget 1500
>'87 300zx
>
>
|