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Running without a Thermosta

To: british-cars@hoosier.cs.utah.edu
Subject: Running without a Thermosta
From: "Jerry Kaidor" <jerry_kaidor@engtwomac.synoptics.com>
Date: 19 Oct 92 11:15:40 U
   Running without a Thermostat

John Lupien writes: ( about too-fast circulation of coolant leading to engine
overheating )

This is a myth...

   *** I tend to agree with John here.  I believe, that the requirement for a
thermostat body, or at least, a restrictor plate, is due to the type of pump
our cars use.

    Essentially, a water pump is a rotating plate with short vanes on one side.
 This does not seem like a very "positive action" mechanism to me.  It depends
on the flow characteristics, viscosity, and mass of the water to work at all.

    Imagine a large tank of water with such a rotating plate in the middle. 
Would any net flow of water occur?  I submit that all that would happen, would
be a bit of a whirlpool in the vicinity of the plate.

    I believe that one of the requirements for proper operation of these
extremely simple pumps, is that it see a defined backpressure to work against. 
This is provided by the hole in the thermostat.

              - Jerry






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