[Spits] Sputtering when hot above 50 mph

[Greg Stull]

Thanks Richard, I won't waste my time with a new thermostat. I changed the
fluid last summer when I put new hoses on.

Here's where the gauge runs. It might go up to the 3/4 mark but not above even
in traffic. Is that running to hot? It was close to 90 when I took the
picture.

What in degrees are the marks? I was going to hook up another gauge I had but
I didn't have the right adapter.

Greg
1978 Spitfire 1500
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Richard Gosling
  To: Greg Stull
  Cc: Spitfire Group
  Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 8:06 AM
  Subject: Re: [Spits] Sputtering when hot above 50 mph


    "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

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