Missing Thermostat
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
Missing Thermostat
Folks,
I recently replaced the thermostat housing seal on my newly acquired '79 and was kinda surpised that no thermostat was installed. The heater is not in line (ie manifold ports are plugged)...is this normal? Will adding a thermostat cause any problems? I can't imagine it would...
Thanks,
Wuttin
I recently replaced the thermostat housing seal on my newly acquired '79 and was kinda surpised that no thermostat was installed. The heater is not in line (ie manifold ports are plugged)...is this normal? Will adding a thermostat cause any problems? I can't imagine it would...
Thanks,
Wuttin
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem NC
Wuttin, some people remove the thermostat under the theory that it allows more water flow, resulting in cooler operating temps. There is another camp, however, that feels that removing the thermostat allows the water to flow too quickly through the radiator, and doesn't allow the radiator to properly cool it as it passes through. Personally, I've never noticed much of a difference (except in winter).
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Monroe MI
No thermostat will not allow the water to remain in the radiator long enough to cool off. The idea of a stat is to hold water in the rad until it cools to a certain temp, then open it to allow cooler water into the engine to cool it off.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by 69396Chevy
No thermostat will not allow the water to remain in the radiator long enough to cool off. The idea of a stat is to hold water in the rad until it cools to a certain temp, then open it to allow cooler water into the engine to cool it off.
I have.. I spend alot of time running with and without a thermostat. Every day I took the car out and I changed the thermostat. Either in or out but it never ran the way it ran the day before.
I also monitored head temperature in BOTH heads.
I found with a thermostat I needed ONE fan on at all times and the motor ran about 195 with a 165 themostat.
Without any themostat in I didn't need ANY fan on the open road and the motor stabalized at 185-188.
I also found that after driving and shutting down for 5 minutes like in a gas stop the heads equlized temperature faster with NO thermostat.
Take all the theories you want but until you have tested them yourself you don't really know what works best for you.
That said I would not run my dailly driver without a thermostat but my corvette will NOT run a thermostat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
Have any of you guys ever really tested this?? Or are you just going by what others say???
I have.. I spend alot of time running with and without a thermostat. Every day I took the car out and I changed the thermostat. Either in or out but it never ran the way it ran the day before.
I also monitored head temperature in BOTH heads.
I found with a thermostat I needed ONE fan on at all times and the motor ran about 195 with a 165 themostat.
Without any themostat in I didn't need ANY fan on the open road and the motor stabalized at 185-188.
I also found that after driving and shutting down for 5 minutes like in a gas stop the heads equlized temperature faster with NO thermostat.
Take all the theories you want but until you have tested them yourself you don't really know what works best for you.
That said I would not run my dailly driver without a thermostat but my corvette will NOT run a thermostat.
I have.. I spend alot of time running with and without a thermostat. Every day I took the car out and I changed the thermostat. Either in or out but it never ran the way it ran the day before.
I also monitored head temperature in BOTH heads.
I found with a thermostat I needed ONE fan on at all times and the motor ran about 195 with a 165 themostat.
Without any themostat in I didn't need ANY fan on the open road and the motor stabalized at 185-188.
I also found that after driving and shutting down for 5 minutes like in a gas stop the heads equlized temperature faster with NO thermostat.
Take all the theories you want but until you have tested them yourself you don't really know what works best for you.
That said I would not run my dailly driver without a thermostat but my corvette will NOT run a thermostat.
Get your service manual out, find out the correct thermostat (I would guess 180-190), install it and tune up your car. If your car is overheating or just plain running warm then you have a cooling related issue that has been discussed here many times - blocked/clogged or just plain old radiator, failing water pump, thermostat issues, timing issues, etc. GM designed and ran big blocks with a/c and other special high performance engines for many years.
Fix what ain't working right and enjoy your car.
OK, off the soap box.
Gary
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by GaryS
I think the discussion of whether or not you should run a thermostat is almost funny. Do you really think GM would spend the time and money to engineer a car with parts (thermostat and related) that are optional? The engine is designed to run at a specified temperature. That temperature is controlled by the combination of the water pump, thermostat, radiator, and the tune-up specs of the engine. If GM could save 10 cents on any part, they would. Why re-engineer what GM already did?
Get your service manual out, find out the correct thermostat (I would guess 180-190), install it and tune up your car. If your car is overheating or just plain running warm then you have a cooling related issue that has been discussed here many times - blocked/clogged or just plain old radiator, failing water pump, thermostat issues, timing issues, etc. GM designed and ran big blocks with a/c and other special high performance engines for many years.
Fix what ain't working right and enjoy your car.
OK, off the soap box.
Gary
Get your service manual out, find out the correct thermostat (I would guess 180-190), install it and tune up your car. If your car is overheating or just plain running warm then you have a cooling related issue that has been discussed here many times - blocked/clogged or just plain old radiator, failing water pump, thermostat issues, timing issues, etc. GM designed and ran big blocks with a/c and other special high performance engines for many years.
Fix what ain't working right and enjoy your car.
OK, off the soap box.
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Thermostats are needed to warm the car up properly in cold weather. For a high performance car running only in the warm weather it is not needed. Also the safely factor of a thermostat sticking and they do stick makes it too risky.
Over heating is not a problem, getting to a proper working temp of about 185 is not a problem. Weather I need a fan or not tells me which is more efficient at cooling the engine.
Mine runs more efficient without a thermostat. GM or a service manual can say all they want. Some of us think outside what is good for the average person/car.
Over heating is not a problem, getting to a proper working temp of about 185 is not a problem. Weather I need a fan or not tells me which is more efficient at cooling the engine.
Mine runs more efficient without a thermostat. GM or a service manual can say all they want. Some of us think outside what is good for the average person/car.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Salem MA
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
Thermostats are needed to warm the car up properly in cold weather. For a high performance car running only in the warm weather WITH ELECTRIC FANS ON A TEMPERATURE SWITCH it is SOMETIMES not needed. Also the safely factor of a thermostat sticking and they do stick makes it too risky.
Over heating is not a problem, getting to a proper working temp of about 185 is not a problem. Weather I need a fan or not tells me which is more efficient at cooling the engine.
Mine runs more efficient without a thermostat. GM or a service manual can say all they want. Some of us think outside what is good for the average person/car.
Over heating is not a problem, getting to a proper working temp of about 185 is not a problem. Weather I need a fan or not tells me which is more efficient at cooling the engine.
Mine runs more efficient without a thermostat. GM or a service manual can say all they want. Some of us think outside what is good for the average person/car.
your managing your engine temp with electric fans. therefore your thermostat is a thermo-switch or a switch in your dash. if you had a mechanical fan your car would suck without a thermostat. so really there is just mis-comunication going on in this thread.
so really were discussing managing temps with a thermostat and mechanical fan vs. thermostat and electric fans. vs. just electric fans.
i think we all agree an engines temp needs management to remain constant. its just a matter of how we manage it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,507
Likes: 1,514
From: Little Rock AR
The Thermostat is there to help the engine warm up quickly. It will also regulate the lower end of the temperature range once it gets to operating temperature.
They are not mandatory just like many parts on your car but it helps drivabillity and theoreticaly helps durabillity because of the faster warm up. I have run with them or without them but I prefer to run with them.
-Mark.
They are not mandatory just like many parts on your car but it helps drivabillity and theoreticaly helps durabillity because of the faster warm up. I have run with them or without them but I prefer to run with them.
-Mark.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 5
From: Austin Texas
I'll chime in and say one of the most important functions of the thermostat is to warm up the engine as quickly as possible. This is not only good for emissions, but you will burn off the nasty stuff in the oil quicker...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '07
i dont run one. the reason being is because if it wear to fail im running at 6000 rpms for like an hour or 1 and if it over heats that ruins the whole day so its easier just to leave it out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
I think that big blocks and small blocks pumping big horsepower will warm up pretty fast, with or without a thermostat. Horsepower creates a lot of heat. For stock small blocks a high flow thermostat would heat the engine fast enough and provide adequate temperatures. However, controlling temperatures using a thermostat or with electric fans is basically doing the same thing. Warm up times vary depending on how cold or warm it is outside, so the time varies no matter what. Constant temperatures after warmup is important but either way the temps are going to be fairly constant. I can't see dependability or durability sacrificed either way. Just my thoughts on it all.
Bernie
Bernie
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by yellow73sb
i dont run one. the reason being is because if it wear to fail im running at 6000 rpms for like an hour or 1 and if it over heats that ruins the whole day so its easier just to leave it out.
I'm cornfused...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by WhichVette?
I'm cornfused...
i dont even know what i meant 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,065
Likes: 2
From: Smalltownville Michigan
Cruise-In 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by yellow73sb
basically i cant type. what i meant is i dont wanan take the risk of over heating while racing( since all i do is race my car)did that clear it up. after reading what i said above i dont even know what i meant
i dont even know what i meant then invest in a failsafe type. if it fails, it fails to the open position...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Thought I would jump in here. It is true that a car will run cooler without a thermostat. I did it with my 61 Merc in high school because it was overheating and I had no money. So its a fact, however personally I would never recommend this to anyone. An old GM mechanic told me years ago that it not only increase emissions, but causes excessive wear if not operating at a certain temperature. While I can't prove the excessive wear and I'm not an engineer, I do believe thermostats play a critical role in your vehicle operation.
Last edited by 71406; Aug 30, 2005 at 08:53 PM.