I didn't see this and I would need some *serious* convincing to buy this. I am
betting this is only true in very specific cars/situations, if at all. I know
that a recent overheating problem on a Toyota Supra was solved by replacing the
thermostat with a *very* small restrictor. Car had a huge aluminum racing
radiator and was still overheating, no matter what thermostat they ran. They
were switched to a restrictor with a hole about 1/4" or so in it and the car
runs cool and totally stable, both on and off the track. Consider this: why
doesn't your hand burn when you pass it quickly over a flame but will burn if
passed slowly? Heat transfer vs time. Same thing in an engine's cooling system.
The coolant must be in contact with the engine materials long enough for the
heat to transfer adequately. Ditto the radiator. No material spec is going to
change that and allow instantaneous heat transfer, at least nothing we will ever
deal with. I'm highly skeptical, and think there is something else going on,
like super high pressures (some race cars are now running over 30 psi and to do
that you must have special equipment).
Charlie wrote:
>
> Did anyone catch speed visions discussion concerning aluminum radiators that
> are used in racing. They basically said that with a high efficiency
> aluminum radiator system, they have dispelled the myth that a thermostat or
> restrictor makes a car run cooler by holding water in the radiator longer.
> They say that race cars run cooler by running water through the system as
> fast as possible, i.e, wide open.
>
> I have no idea where that leaves us guys without high efficiency systems or
> cars that don't go around track at high speed. Has anyone ever performed a
> test to see if their roadster runs cooler with a thermostat in controlled
> conditions? I don't have a thermostat in my car and it runs at about 230
> deg.
>
> Before you start...I removed a stuck/bad thermostat in order to do a test
> drive. My engine was just rebuilt and the block has been flushed at least
> twice. The radiator has a brand new triple core. My timing is dead on 16 deg
> BTDC and the carbs are running a little rich. The heater valve on the engine
> is closed.
>
> I'm going to buy a new thermostat and see if my temp goes down. I will then
> open the heater valve and see if that makes any difference. I will then go
> on the same highway (LBJ) and see if the temp does the slow climb to the top
> like it did before the engine rebuild and 3 core was installed.
>
> Charlie
> 1964 SPL310 (1500)
> Flower Mound, Texas
> http://members.home.net/cehubbard/tdroc/
|