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Re: radiator mystery

To: Bob Howard <mgbob@juno.com>, paul.hunt1@blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: Re: radiator mystery
From: Barrie Robinson <barrier@bconnex.net>
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2002 11:19:41 -0400
Bob,

Having driven my "standard" MGB GT right through 8 Canadian winters I feel 
I know something about the heat, or lack thereof, subject.  I found the 
simplest solution was, when it got cold, to cut a piece of cardboard to 
cover half of the rad, covered it both sides with aluminium foil then 
dropped it in front of the rad.  It worked fine and lasted a coon's age.  I 
should have modified the heater valve as once described on this list - and 
I will do it for my MGB GT V8 build.

At 08:44 AM 6/6/02 -0400, Bob Howard wrote:
>   It started out as an effort to increase heat to the heater, a
>wintertime adaptation.  The first cold morning revealed that the 195 stat
>was insufficient to bring much heat to the heater, which lead to my
>discussing with a several nearby mechanics.  They all advocated blocking
>part of the radiator, which did cause engine temp to reach 195, the
>thermostat to open, and the heater to work much better.
>   Their discussions all ended with the recommendation that the 195 stat
>be used year-round.  I don't recall all their reasons now, but do recall
>that universally they pointed out that all modern vehicles use 195 stats.
>  One thing they agreed on was that the higher temps keep the oil cleaner
>and that today's oils are much less prone to temperature breakdown than
>oils of the MGB era.  They feel that the higher temps reduce cylinder and
>valve guide wear. Each has a couple of antique cars of his own.   I have
>no published references to confirm their beliefs, but all these guys have
>their certificates in frames on the wall, and all of them steam clean
>engines before opening any part, even rocker covers.
>    For two years I switched back to the 180 stat for summer, but when I
>found that the 195 stat had no effect on summertime oil pressure and that
>the drained summer oil seemed to be less stringy/gooey, I left the 195 in
>place year round.
>   My TD has a 75C stat, 167F approx.  Both engines have oil changed 2x
>per year, at about 1500 miles. The B oil always appears to be more
>uniform in viscosity when poured into the waste container.  I make the
>assumption that it has less condensation accumulated in it than the TD.
>Neither loses coolant.   Both engines have 20/50 oil.
>    Sometime, if I were ever to get organised, I should start sending oil
>samples out for analysis and test my beliefs.
>Bob
>
>
>On Thu, 6 Jun 2002 10:17:35 +0100 "Telewest \(PH\)"
><paul.hunt1@blueyonder.co.uk> writes:
> > Why a 195 stat?  Clausager reckons the standard stat was originally
> > 180 (which I have) with 165 for hot climates and 190 for cold climates.
>
> >  Then the standard stat was changed to 165 to increase oil pressure by
> > lowering oil temperature, and cold climates got the 180.  A 195 would
>open
> > even later, which should show higher on the gauge not lower, and for
>the
> > gauge to read less than N implies the stat is fully shut and so the rad
>
> > should be cold.  I don't deny what you say, just don't understand it in
>what
> > seems to me to be a 'temperate' climate.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
>

Regards
Barrie

Barrie Robinson - barrier@bconnex.net

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