This is quite normal for any engine and especially a small one. The heater
acts as a very efficient radiator, the thermostat never opens and the car
cools off. The Swedes solved this problem with the on-board radiator
shutter used on the Volvo 544, as did DKW. An old western Canadian trick
is to use cardboard to cover the entire radiator but cut a hole about 8
inches in diameter in the middle of the cardboard. You might have to
adjust the size of the hole depending on the amount and kind of driving you
do. Of course all of this is dependent on the ambient air temperature at
all times.
John McEwen
>This is my first winter with an MGB. On a 50 mile drive with the heater on, I
>discovered that every time I stopped, the engine would die. It would always
>start back up, but didn't idle worth a damn. After awhile I noticed that the
>temperature gauge was lower than I'm used to seeing, so I gave it a little
>choke. That did the trick! The idle picked up to 1K (where it usually runs)
>and ran much smoother. The engine just got a new 190F thermostat along with a
>complete tune-up (and a new cylinder head, but that's another story) done by a
>professional. I already had the oil cooler taped up for the winter. Is this
>normal for an MGB in the winter? It's almost like the heater was sucking up
>too much heat from the engine. Should I try blocking the radiator with some
>cardboard? Is it common practice to drive around with continuous choke in the
>winter?
>
>BTW, it was only 32F that day and it's gonna get a lot colder than that before
>spring.
>
>Bob Donahue (Still stuck in the '50s)
>EMAIL - BOBMGT@AOL.COM
>52 MGTD - under DIY restoration NEMGTR #11470
>71 MGB - AMGBA #96-12029, NAMGBR #7-3336
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