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Running car without thermostat?

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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:18 PM
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Default Running car without thermostat?

in the summer months only.

is this detrimental to the motor?
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:20 PM
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i cant imagine it would be detrimental to the engine at any time of year. it would just run cooler.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:23 PM
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running cooler is fine.. as im not worried about emissions. im worried about overcooling
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:32 PM
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why would you do that?
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:43 PM
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Stock tstat/housing is a one piece unit, unless you have one of the new replacement pumps. If you want to run cooler in summer I'd just reset the fan temps or get a manual switch.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:49 PM
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when i flushed my cooling system i took my old thermostat and bashed out the guts..

the reason im asking is my the stat is either not opening up anymore or is stuck thus making my car overheat.

this is a new stat i put in last summer.. and now its ******* up. i dont think putting a new stat will help. i may have a problem with my cooling system
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:11 PM
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Id try and figure out why its not working.... if the car was an older car id say it would be fine (meaning no computer or sensors) but the way cars are now a days their are so many electrical components if it overheats or runs too cool you run a BIG risk in reallly messing something up
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:19 PM
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I'm confused now - you're in Canada running the car now and it's running hot, or it did it last summer? Replace the tstat with a new one (160 if you like), there's another reason the car is running hot - could be something as simple as a bad radiator cap, air in the system, etc.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28
I'm confused now - you're in Canada running the car now and it's running hot, or it did it last summer? Replace the tstat with a new one (160 if you like), there's another reason the car is running hot - could be something as simple as a bad radiator cap, air in the system, etc.
its 45-55 degrees F. as of right now. AMIT--I wouldn't run w/out a thermostat..from everything I have read and heard..it is not an idea at all.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:36 PM
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i would of thought you would over heat w/o a stat? i know nothing.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:42 PM
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I wouldnt run without one, during startup it allows the engine to properly warm up before it opens, once its open it should stay open unless you'd drop below the temp rating, which I dont think ever would happen, I would say stick a new 160 in it and be done with it

if your not sure if your old one is working or not, throw it in a pan of hot/boiling water and see if it opens up
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 08:25 PM
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Running with out a stat during the summer is not bad, but in the winter months it will cost you some gas mileage as the car will never reach operating temps in order to go from open loop to closed loop.

They also say alot of the motors efficiency depends on the motor running hot enough to aide in burning the fuel mixture properly.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 09:32 PM
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A lot of people do it.
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:21 PM
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I thought running the LS1 too cool was a bad thing.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 12:21 AM
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....I always thought running w/o one will cause the car to overheat because the coolant is not in the engine long enough. But i've also heard that "back in the day" (which was a wednesday if you were wondering) people would remove the t-stat here in florida and be fine.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 12:28 AM
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umm no guys ... it wont make it run cool.. it will make it runner HOTTER.. the thermo regulats the coolant temp up to opperatting temps and its a semi restriction in the cooling tract.. which allows the fluid to stay in the radiator longer with air running over it to cool it..

if you take this way.. the fluid will then run full force and never have a chance to cool.. its only chance to cool is hitting the radiator and disapating the heat through that.. too fast and the heat stays trapped in the fluid..

Big no no on not running a thermo.. remember.. your 99+ gauge clusters are dummy gauges and wont show you whats going on until its tool late and it just pegs over.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Brian2006
A lot of people do it.

a lot of people are also crack heads and have sex with their sisters too.. doesnt mean you should follow suit
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 01:28 AM
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I would only do it in an SBC motor. And still. The part is there for a reason. You do not want to run too hot or too cool in any car. It will cause power loss, and is not good for the motor. You won't be able to tune for it either. Like someone said earlier. Just have your fans kick on at 180 and you should be fine. Get a stock replacement since you botched the original one.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 05:08 AM
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umm no guys ... it wont make it run cool.. it will make it runner HOTTER.. the thermo regulats the coolant temp up to opperatting temps and its a semi restriction in the cooling tract.. which allows the fluid to stay in the radiator longer with air running over it to cool it..

if you take this way.. the fluid will then run full force and never have a chance to cool.. its only chance to cool is hitting the radiator and disapating the heat through that.. too fast and the heat stays trapped in the fluid..

Big no no on not running a thermo.. remember.. your 99+ gauge clusters are dummy gauges and wont show you whats going on until its tool late and it just pegs over
+2. when my thermostat crapped the bed the car started overheating. I dont really see an advantage to removing the 'stat.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by black00ssFL
....I always thought running w/o one will cause the car to overheat because the coolant is not in the engine long enough. But i've also heard that "back in the day" (which was a wednesday if you were wondering) people would remove the t-stat here in florida and be fine.
i agree.
i would think you need atleast a slight restriction in there to slow the water down so it can do it's job.and also without a thermostat in there it takes forever for your vehicle to warm up if your car is overheating you may need to flush out your system and while you are at it put in the green.
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