I'd like to ask about thermostats in winter.
I am told that for any make / model there is just ONE approved or recommended thermostat; that deviation from what GM has approved is unwise.
I note that upon starting, the temp will slowly but surely climb to just a tick under 90 C (maybe 205-210 F) and then back down after it's open. It seems to be electronicly controlled because I can 'trick' it into getting up that hi again by shutting the engine off a few mins.
I am inclined that this fall, to get a higher-temp 'stat because this thing does not throw out enough heat. I hold the fan and temp controls down to make 100% sure they are both maxxed out, and leave them like that ALL the time and I never get hot (nor am I wimpy about the cold. Haven't worn long johns in years. The mitts that take D cells in them have remained on the shelf all winter) ....Since the engine is under 25,000 km I'm jumping to conclusions that flushing the cooling system or heater core will be a tad pointless, but I am open to being corrected.
IF ever it is warm out and the temp gets higher than it has ever been, I am prepared to crank the heat and roll down the windows (like the trick when it's blazing hot in summer and the temp guage gets hi)...apart from that is there any harm anyone can think of about a thermostat hitting (and secondly, staying at) 220 F in a Manitoba Dec, Jan, or Feb??
BTW where do you stand on 'winterfronts' for cars and the poor man's version, namely cardboard: I had a real legitimate mechanic install a piece of cardboard as a 'winterfront' as long as I made a point of coming back in spring.
Feb CAN be just as bad as Jan here; and whoever said "beware the ides of March" surely didn't live HERE (or it would be "Beware the ides of JUNE
) but the hardest part is over.
BTW it was the worst cold snap since '66 and that's before my time.
Cheers
Rob
I am told that for any make / model there is just ONE approved or recommended thermostat; that deviation from what GM has approved is unwise.
I note that upon starting, the temp will slowly but surely climb to just a tick under 90 C (maybe 205-210 F) and then back down after it's open. It seems to be electronicly controlled because I can 'trick' it into getting up that hi again by shutting the engine off a few mins.
I am inclined that this fall, to get a higher-temp 'stat because this thing does not throw out enough heat. I hold the fan and temp controls down to make 100% sure they are both maxxed out, and leave them like that ALL the time and I never get hot (nor am I wimpy about the cold. Haven't worn long johns in years. The mitts that take D cells in them have remained on the shelf all winter) ....Since the engine is under 25,000 km I'm jumping to conclusions that flushing the cooling system or heater core will be a tad pointless, but I am open to being corrected.
IF ever it is warm out and the temp gets higher than it has ever been, I am prepared to crank the heat and roll down the windows (like the trick when it's blazing hot in summer and the temp guage gets hi)...apart from that is there any harm anyone can think of about a thermostat hitting (and secondly, staying at) 220 F in a Manitoba Dec, Jan, or Feb??
BTW where do you stand on 'winterfronts' for cars and the poor man's version, namely cardboard: I had a real legitimate mechanic install a piece of cardboard as a 'winterfront' as long as I made a point of coming back in spring.
Feb CAN be just as bad as Jan here; and whoever said "beware the ides of March" surely didn't live HERE (or it would be "Beware the ides of JUNE
BTW it was the worst cold snap since '66 and that's before my time.
Cheers
Rob
