At 8:32 PM 2/22/97 -0700, Jane Burdekin wrote:
>Jay, I used to run with out the thermostat in the summer. It helped keep
>it a bit cooler. Otherwise I use a summer therm. usually as I have a
>problem with running too hot. I think it would be similar with a TR3.
>
>Jane
>'67 GT6
A TR3 has a radiator bipass. This allows water to circulate within the
engine while the thermostat is closed. This eliminates hot spots in the
head that can lead to head cracks. The thermostat has a skirt that acts as
a valve for the radiator bipass. When the thermostat opens, the skirt
closes off the bipass. If you have the wrong thermostat or no thermostat
in place close to half of the coolent will bipass the radiator and stay in
the engine (guessed quantity based upon size of bipass hose and radiator
rods).
If you have no thermostat, the coolent takes longer to get up to
temperature. On cool days where the engine is not working hard, the engine
may never come up to optimum operating termerature. An engine that runs
too cool emits more SMOG, is not as effecent as a warm engine, may collect
water vapour in the oil and reduce engine life.
On hot days or when the engine is working hard the car may overheat without
a thermostat. The water pump pumps water through the radiator at a rate
corresponding to the engine speed. The longer the water is in contact with
the radiator surface, the more heat can be transfered. Without the
restriction of the thermostat slowing down the coolent flow the coolent
just may not have enough contact time to transfer much heat.
TeriAnn Wakeman "Large format photographers look
Santa Cruz California at the world upside down and
twakeman@scruznet.com backwards"
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