Is This a Thermostat Problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Woodbridge VA
Is This a Thermostat Problem
I took by 82 out for a mid-winters drive the other night. The oustide temperture was about the 30 degrees, roads were dry. I let the car warm up in the driveaway before 20 minutes before I pulled away. The Temp gauge never got above 100 and the heater air was warm but never got hot.
This is the first winter I've had the car in VA. I brought the car from the southwest. My thoughts are either the thermostat is stuck wide open or maybe it was removed by the pervious owner. Before I start, I wanted some expert advise.
This is the first winter I've had the car in VA. I brought the car from the southwest. My thoughts are either the thermostat is stuck wide open or maybe it was removed by the pervious owner. Before I start, I wanted some expert advise.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Price Utah
I would suspect that either it is stuck open or a previous owner removed the center portion of the thermostat. I have done this before to engines that operate in HOT weather as in the desert southwest.
Good luck
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Probably a missing thermostat, bubba likes doing things like that.
BTW- letting a car sitting and idling 'to warm up' is not a good idea. Get in and drive it gently right away until it's fully warmed up. Letting it idle just increases warm up time and wastes gas.
BTW- letting a car sitting and idling 'to warm up' is not a good idea. Get in and drive it gently right away until it's fully warmed up. Letting it idle just increases warm up time and wastes gas.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 441
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Yep, one or the other. You should fix this asap as w/o the thermostat, your engine takes forever to get to normal operating temp. If the engine doesn't get warmed up properly, engine sludge can result. Once you get it repaired, keep your eye on the temp gage as you may find you have an overheating problem and maybe why Bubba "fixed" it. On the other hand, it may just be that the thermostat locked in the open position. Good luck with the project. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
If you find there's a stat in place (which is the first thing I'd check), you can easily test it just as you ought to do with any replacement before installation. Suspend it in a pot of warming water and monitor the temp with a candy thermometer or IR pyrometer to see if it is functioning properly as rated. Just don't get caught by the wife, if applicable. 
