what happens with no thermostat on lt1?
09-06-2004, 02:09 AM
#1
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what happens with no thermostat on lt1? friend is runnin a caprice 9c1 without a thermostat, says that no problems have occured and is actually getting better gas mileage, any comments on this?
09-06-2004, 02:22 AM
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Um... well, the thermostat's main job is to allow the engine to heat up quickly, and then keep the engine at a constant temperature. It does this by regulating the amount of water that goes through the radiator.
Once the engine reaches about 200 degrees fahrenheit:
1. The combustion chamber is hot enough to completely vaporize fuel, providing better combustion and reducing emissions.
2. The oil in the engine is thinner. This makes the engine parts move more freely and the engine wastes less power moving its own components around.
3. The metal parts will wear less.
So... by your friend not having a thermostat, he is increasing engine wear, deposits, and emissions.
I don't buy your friend seeming to get better gas mileage but he may not see the consequences until his engine craps out on him or he gets an emissions test (by the way, the same thing happens when you change from a 195 to a 160 thermostat without tuning). You may see a little performance increase because the engine is running "cooler" but you still have the negative side effects.
Once the engine reaches about 200 degrees fahrenheit:
1. The combustion chamber is hot enough to completely vaporize fuel, providing better combustion and reducing emissions.
2. The oil in the engine is thinner. This makes the engine parts move more freely and the engine wastes less power moving its own components around.
3. The metal parts will wear less.
So... by your friend not having a thermostat, he is increasing engine wear, deposits, and emissions.
I don't buy your friend seeming to get better gas mileage but he may not see the consequences until his engine craps out on him or he gets an emissions test (by the way, the same thing happens when you change from a 195 to a 160 thermostat without tuning). You may see a little performance increase because the engine is running "cooler" but you still have the negative side effects.
Last edited by LT1 Guy; 09-06-2004 at 03:00 AM. Reason: Came up with a better answer.
09-07-2004, 12:00 AM
#3
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The other negative side effect not mentioned is that for the moisture to effectively be driven from the oil it needs to get above the boiling point of water. So the oil temp needs to exceed 212 degrees fahrenheit. My guess is that your friends oil temp is not reaching that point so it is collecting moisture.
During the summer he may be able to get away with this but come winter time he is going to have problems with the engine running too cold and consuming more gas because it thinks it's on the "choke" circuit all the time and his heater won't work well either.
All sorts of benefits to running with no thermostat!!!
ZcarGuy
During the summer he may be able to get away with this but come winter time he is going to have problems with the engine running too cold and consuming more gas because it thinks it's on the "choke" circuit all the time and his heater won't work well either.
All sorts of benefits to running with no thermostat!!!
ZcarGuy
