OK, you're right about the radiator. But I have a 190 degree thermostat
(they don't come any higher than that, do they?). The issue seems to be
that the air flow around the engine keeps it below 190 degrees at highway
speed in cold weather (the needle sits at 170-180). What I would need to
get the thermostat to open would be a *lower* temperature thermostat, but
this would have the opposite effect of what is intended, i.e. achieve a
higher water temperature in the block.
That's why I was suggesting blocking the radiator, to reduce air flow
through the engine compartment. Or possibly the solution would be to wrap
up the oil cooler radiator, or install one of those oil cooler
thermostats.
Anyway, I've never pursued it, because in my climate this is a rare
occurence. I've only experienced it up at Yosemite, in the coastal
mountains, and in San Francisco in an October fog.
Charley & Peggy Robinson had this to say:
>
> Actually, if the thermostat isn't opening eventually (not likely if
>it's driven far), the radiator isn't in the picture. Put a higher temp
>thermostat into it to get the coolant in the block and heater hotter
>before it opens.
>
> CR
> '69 B
>
>
>Max Heim wrote:
>>
>> You think the *fan* is anemic? Wait till you experience the "half-dead
>> hamster breathing through a straw" non-blast of non-heat which is all the
>> motor puts out at anything below 40 degrees ambient. Yes, the stock
>> cooling system is *too* good -- my B won't get up to operating
>> temperature or even open the thermostat when driven at freeway speeds in
>> seriously cold weather (which is admittedly rare around here).
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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