[Spits] Sputtering when hot above 50 mph

[Richard Gosling]

> "I'm going to put a 160 degree thermostat in to see if that helps...."



You cannot fix an overheating problem by using a lower temperature
thermostat (unless the existing 'stat was faulty and failing to open, in
which case a new standard temperature 'stat would work just as well).  If
your coolant is at 240deg, it makes no difference what 'stat you've got in
there, a 180deg 'stat will be just as open as a 160deg 'stat.

All that a lower temperature 'stat will do is open when the coolant reaches
160deg, delaying the engine getting to it's optimum operating temperature
(more like 200deg), and allowing the engine to run cooler than optimum if
conditions allow (i.e. travelling at reasonable constant speed with little
load on the engine).  If your engine has got a problem and wants to run hot,
it'll reach that temperature regardless of what thermostat is fitted.

Richard