re: [alfa] Thermostat broken?

[Bruce Giller <bgiller@xxxxxxxxx>]

Larry,
	Have you checked the actual temperature of the coolant with a
thermometer?  Might be that your temp. sender is going bad.  Also you
might want to bleed any air out of the cooling system which affects when
the thermostat opens; which is late.

	But there is one way to test when the thermostat starts to open without
removing anything.  With the engine cold, start it up and hold your hand
on the hose from the radiator to the thermostat housing.  It should be
cold.  When the temp. gauge reads 175, you should feel the hose starting
to get hot as the thermostat opens.  Of course this doesn't tell you how
much coolant the thermostat is allowing to pass thru.

	Bruce

	'86 Spider
	'73 GTV

> Does anyone know a way to check the operation of a thermostate on a SPICA
> injected 2 ltr beside the pull it and drop in pot on the stove method?
> Anything one can do with the thing in place?
> 
> My thermostat was replaced a couple months back, and the car ran precisely
> with the needle just a tiny smidgeon above the 175 indication.  I could see
> the thing open and close.  Now, I'm not really sure if it's opening and
> closing, and the car runs with the needle right at the unlabeled stripe that
> would appear to indicate 212.
> 
> The car runs fine, the needle never goes above that (it will below a bit --
> like on a long downhill grade on a cool day with no load on the engine), no
> other signs of problems.  Can I just drive like this, or am I risking my head
> gasket, head, etc?
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