Thermostat or not?

Uncle Josh

What's the prevailing wisdom as to whether to use a thermostat. I've heard that not using one makes the water run thru the radiator without cooling it. What say you all?

lostmind

You can eliminate the thermostat , but you some sort of restriction to slow down the flow.
A disc with 3/4 to 1" hole possibly.

Geoff

They put them in there for a reason. Do you have a solution searching for a problem?

TwinH

Thermostat for any street driven deal,except for the Essex maybe. But they forgot the water pump too and counted on the driver to operate the radiator shutters...

[Deleted User]

The thermostat is a must, as the engine has to run at a certain temp. Just look at your new cars, they run at 190 to 210 degrees, this helps the gas mileage. Leave the thermo out of your Hudson and check your gas mileage. Walt.

tigermoth

Uncle josh, the exact opposite is true as Walt and Geoff point out..you need a proper operating thermostat to get the coolant up to operating temperature and keep the coolant in the normal operating range. Regards, tom

StillOutThere

Yep, the engine is most fuel efficient and will live the longest running at the temperature the engineers intended. That is why there is a very small range of aftermarket 'stats because it must stay in that range. Also if you really have a efficient radiator (many owners having added an additional row to the core) you can be distributing comparatively COLD water at your HOT valve seat and that will crack them (anyone seen a Hornet like that?).

Lee ODell

I hadn't heard of a reason for cracked valve seats before. Was not aware of a problem with valve seats cracking or the reasons why. Anyone have more information about that?

Lee O'Dell

[Deleted User]

Try putting cold water into a hot engine, there comes a crack. Walt.

wano1949

The thermostat helps the engine reach operating temperature faster during the initial warm up by staying closed and retaining water in the engine block. Heater works better/quicker in winter, engine doesn't stumble or miss.

It then opens up letting the water flow through the cooling system and controls the constant temperature range the designers wanted for their cars best performance and engine life.

You can remove the thermostat and actually have the engine running hotter because the water does go through the radiator faster, especially at higher engine speeds.

The engine designers were usually a pretty smart bunch. Too hot you got problems, too cold you got another set, including water condensation in the oil and sludge buildup.

The only problem with the thermostat itself is sometimes it sticks open or sticks closed. Which then causes a problem of overheating or overcooling.

You can make a restriction plate and control the flow that way if you want to bypass the thermostat problems. You lose the quicker warm up though.

Round Track Racing engines use a plate to control flow as they run well over 200 degrees and a thermostat sticking loses you the motor and a race.

You used to be able to buy different heat range thermostats and it was common to run a "summer" and a "winter' one.

The newer cars are all controlled by computer and you get only one choice for a replacement. the computer depends on a constant temperature in order to signal everything else to work.

brumac

Is anyone running a 180 degree thermostat? It would keep the water in the radiator a bit longer and actually may lessen the possibility of overheating.
Bruce

[Deleted User]

Along this train of information....I just today installed a mechanical temp gauge and was wondering know that I know the exact temp., what should it be? I am guessing 190o? Installed the sending unit bulb just above the thermostat so that I might get a spike in temp reading when the thermostat opens ,but did not notice this.

wano1949

Usually the thermostat had the temperature stamped on it. You would have to pull it to see what the number is.

If you take it out look for rust or sludge in the cooling passage in the head. I have had a few overheat in the past and it was due to the water ports in the head and block being stopped up.
Water couldn't run through the head to cool it. Ran a coat hanger through the openings, flushed the system a few times and problem cured.

Take the unit to the kitchen while the wife is gone and get an old cooking pan and a kitchen thermometer, boil it up in water and see at what temp it moves open. Make sure it seals when it cools off. This will tell you if it's in a reasonable range and works.

If the cooling system is working right there shouldn't be much surge in temperature after the motor is warmed up.

A location on the block or head for the sender is the most consistent.

But I have done like you and even made an adapter to put one in a radiator hose a few times.
I think that you used to be able to buy the thermostats from 145 degrees up to 200 or so. If I remember right. Lol.

faustmb

The explanation that always stuck with me is that the engine tolerances are designed around operating temperature. Running a "cold" engine at highway speeds will accelerate wear on the internal parts. Sounds logical to me...

[Deleted User]

Car seems to be running around 160o. If it idles for some minutes in gear at a long light it will clime to around 180o. This seems like very low running temps? Not a real issue,but was wondering what others find their cars to run at temp wise?

[Deleted User]

I believe the manual says the factory thermostats will start opening at around 155F, and be fully open at 180F....