Dick: Your explanation makes sense to me. These theories come out of my
mental storage bin based upon information gleaned from 'old timers' years
ago. (One of the possible consequences of getting old is that you remember
things from 60 or 70 years ago but can't remember what you had for
breakfast this morning :-( )
The bottom line is that hopefully the thermostat will find that happy
balance between heat generated and cooling needed to reach the desired
temperature. ( Whether it works successfully in a Healey is one subject
that keeps this List going strong! )
(The Other) Len
Vacaville, CA
1967 3000 MKIII HBJ8L39031
> [Original Message]
> From: Richard Hosmer <rahosmer@citlink.net>
> To: Len and/or Marge <thehartnetts@earthlink.net>; Healeys Mail List
<healeys@autox.team.net>
> Date: 7/30/2005 11:27:58 PM
> Subject: Re: Thermostats and Temperature
>
> on 7/30/05 10:04 PM, Len and/or Marge at thehartnetts@earthlink.net wrote:
>
> > It has always been my understanding that a thermostat slowed the flow of
> > coolant through the radiator in order to bring the temperature down.
Coolant
> > flowing unrestricted through the radiator does not have time to cool
down. By
> > slowing the flow, the coolant spends more time in the radiator thus
being
> > cooler when returned to the engine.
>
> Len, I'm sorry, but the above sounds absolutely HAYWIRE to me. If that
were
> true, a thermostat would have to start out wide open, and close ever
tighter
> with use, to provide more efficient cooling, as the water warmed up while
in
> the block!!
>
> The thermostat HAS to work the other way, retaining water in the block
while
> the engine comes, as speedily as possible, to operating temperature,
without
> any "outside" cooling. When a given temperature is reached (which would
> quickly be exceeded if nothing were done) the opening thermostat releases
> ever-increasing amounts of water to be cooled - which will flow at a rate
> governed by the pump. If the radiator does too good a job, the thermostat
> will not achieve full open, and less water will flow out to be cooled
>
> In hot conditions, the thermostat will soon open fully, and remain so
until
> the engine is turned off. In the winter, depending on 'stat rating, it may
> or may not come full open, but the PRINCIPLE does not change - if other
than
> fully open or fully closed, it is, to one degree or another, retaining hot
> water in the block, NOT the radiator.
>
> I would think that the ideal setup would be a blanking sleeve, or simply
> removal, during the summer, and an appropriate 'stat during the winter, IF
> one was found to be needed. The cars were designed for year-round use in a
> less than ideal climate. Now, many cars are simply put away during the
> colder months.
>
> At least that is how it looks to me! :-)
>
> Dick Hosmer
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