thermostats and FI effects

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@xxxxxx>]

Hi Group:

A few Digest's ago, Joe Cantrell mentioned the problems associated with 
using a lower temp thermostat in an engine with Spica injection.  I've 
found the same to be true with the later Bosch L-Jet engines, too.  When I 
bought my '87 Spider last Fall, the previous owner had been running it with 
no thermostat.  The water temp, even on a warm day would barely creep past 
120F (a testament to the Alfa cooling system's safety margin).  The engine 
would never get hot enough, causing the L-Jet to run much richer, and the 
performance suffered noticeably.  A new 180F thermostat returned the lost 
performance, and gas mileage, too.

Something else to consider is that by pumping all the extra heat out of the 
engine, by way of the cooling system, you're pumping out horsepower, 
too.  It makes much more sense to convert that heat to kinetic energy for 
moving the car.  If you don't believe me, just ask Sir Isaac Newton, he'll 
set you straight.  Play with the fuel mixture, if you must, but not by way 
of the thermostat.

Regards,

Dean
Lutz, FL
'74 & '87 Spider Veloce's 
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