RE: More thermostats dead horse

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@xxxxxxxxx>]

> I don't know what the theoretical explanation is, but practically
> speaking, it seems that Fred's and Sybeaver's contention would
> not stand to reason......  for if a stuck-open or a removed
> thermostat would make an engine overheat, then surely
> thermostats would be designed to CLOSE as they got hotter,  to
> counter this overheating?  But they don't do that.....

a couple of comments concerning thermostats:

first, a wide open thermostat restricts coolant flow more than no
thermostat.  it also restricts coolant flow less than a closed thermostat.
the system is designed such that when the engine is at operating
temperature, the rate of flow of coolant is governed by the open thermostat.

second, in a system with the thermostat removed, the indicated temperature
of the 'cool' running vehicle is really just the temperature of the coolant
at the point it passes the temp sender.  it may not be properly indicating
the temperature of other components in the system.  we know that the
designer intended that a reading of, say 175 degrees, means that all of the
components in the system are at their proper operating temperature.  we
don't know that a reading of, say 150 degrees, with no thermostat, means the
same thing.

fwiw,

bs

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