In answer to your question, the old-style bellows thermostat DOES react much
faster than the new wax-capsule type.
If you old thermostat did not block the bypass, then a significant of hot
coolant always was feeding straight back to the engine.
So, you ought to notice a much more abrupt drop in temperature with the sleeved
bellows type of thermostat.
I am currently using a sleeved new type thermostat and it seems to work fine.
I like to think that the extra flow allowed by the loss of the huge bellows
will enhance cooling by allowing better flow int he radiator. I have not had
any problems with the cooling at all.
I did find that on my car the 165 degree point is at 1/2 of the full sweep of
the needle, and 185 is 2/3 or 3/4 of full sweep. about 212 is at the top of
the sweep.
So, if you were getting between 1/2 and 23, your temp was probalby between 165
and 185. A very acceptable range no matter which thermostat you were using.
-Tony
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