Would you run a carwithout a thermostat?

[SuperFast]

Mine was brokem i just removed it on old 84 Camaro 2.8L Auto

I see a lot of "Orange rust" in a "Tank" of sortsm under the Stat, and a passage to a cylinder ?

So it was a 196 degree stat. Im considering running it WITHOUT the Stat

saw steam come up from the stat hole, since i have no coolant in it at this time

this is just idling in my parking space for ~5 minutes at a time, etc.

Prolly oil change is in order, maybe riun with "just water for a week" and a bottle of Super FLush before replacing with 50/50 green extended life coolant, and a NEW stat?

why or why not ? Thanks!
(Oh if ou want to se epics, please tell me. New lower hose and Thermostat, why not.)

 

[eljefino]

You got your hose? Great!

Keep the stat.

You should not be running without water/coolant. Even if the whole engine doesn't overheat, localized spots might.

 

[Spazdog]

On a Varajet carb'd 2.8? Probably won't make a bit of difference.

More modern cars might have issues not being able to reach proper operating temperature, but the feedback Varajet won't be bothered by it

 

[Quest]

right!!!?

next plse.

Q/

 

[CharlieJ]

I think without a thermostat that the engine would take a long time to get to operating temperature.

 

[rslifkin]

It'll take forever to warm up, and probably not run warm enough, except under heavy load in hot weather. The corresponding colder running temps can make for more wear and can cause sludge due to low oil temps (can't burn off fuel and water contamination).

Why would you want to remove the t-stat?

 

[SuperFast]

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
It'll take forever to warm up, and probably not run warm enough, except under heavy load in hot weather. The corresponding colder running temps can make for more wear and can cause sludge due to low oil temps (can't burn off fuel and water contamination).

Why would you want to remove the t-stat?


No reason, i was just asking the pros/cons.

Seems a "195 degree stat" is the way to go, and something about the carb is making my car use a lot of gas!

Just asking, thanks.

 

[SrDriver]

Clean up the cooling system.

Install a new 196 degree thermostat and a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze.

Running lower temp stat or no stat will cause vehicle to use more fuel and more stuff building up in the engine.

We are not talking a lot of money here + a huge benefit especially with rising fuel prices.

 

[Cristobal]

I think you could get away with no thermostat in very hot climates, back 40 or 50 years ago. These days, I think you will make way too much sludge.

 

[Eddie]

Actually, the thermostate allows the coolent to cirulate at a know volume per minutes when fully open. If your remove the state you may find your engine will run hotter but, warm up much slower. A bad idea. Do as Srdriver suggests.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

ALWAYS run a t-stat. And fix those intake manifold gaskets! I think you could run a 180, NP though.

 

[QuadDriver]

If the radiator cannot remove heat faster than the engine can create it, the engine will always eventually overheat, tstat or not.

therefore, it stands to reason the radiator can remove heat faster than the engine can produce it. put in pure water and in the winter the radiator will freeze solid while driving. put in a 195, it runs about 215, put in a 185, it runs about 205, put in a 160 and it runs about 180. the 20* gap is about the temp differential needed to go from 'starts to open' to 'fully open', and the other reality is, the radiator is there to keep the engine cool when sitting or moving slow at max power. most of your heat is dissipated via airflow anyways.

remove your tstat, and you will always run open loop

 

[Carbuff]

Not sure about your carb, but many of the 80s carburetters had a water line inside, that helped fuel atomization (and maybe helped close the choke. It's been a LONG TIME).

So if your cooling system is low you may be running with the "choke on" (rich) all the time...ruining your gas mileage.

 

[demarpaint]

Flush the cooling system, pressure test it for leaks, install the proper thermostat, and coolant mixture. The engine will take forever w/o a thermostat to reach operating temp and the carb will most likely be running rich as a result. The rich mixture will be costing you more at the pump and the excess fuel could end up in the crankcase diluting your oil.

 

[ahoier]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Running lower temp stat or no stat will cause vehicle to use more fuel and more stuff building up in the engine.
Indeed. This is what I noticed when I originally purchased my 88 Dodge Aries (~29k on the clock at the time....now at ~34k).

The previous owner's ex apparantly insisted that no t-stat would allow for "better flow" - but what I found, was the car was running really rough, and the temperature gauge appeared "deactivated" - my stepdad (an ASE tech....but no "mechanic" of sorts....lol....if you know what I mean...) tore the front end apart, we changed out the coolant temperature sensor, and a coolant sending unit, and then went to pull apart the "t stat" housing to find no t-stat was even IN there......as I previously mentioned, he isn't too mechanically inclined....so we changed out the temperature sending unit, the coolant temperature sensor, the radiator fan motor BEFORE deciding to even look and see if the t-stat was even IN there....


And now, I took the car for an oil change yesterday, when they pulled it off the lift, they said I most likely have a blown head gasket....as they backed it off the lift, a black liquid substance came out of the tail pipe....

BUT, I haven't seen any coolant loss.....but I have noticed a loss in oil....no white smoke on start up....so I'm kind of baffled...


But yea, short answer, NO, do not run without a t-stat....if you are worried about the "flowability" restriction of the coolant through the t-stat...I _have_ read articles/posts where people will puncture a hole in the t-stat......but definitely keep the t-stat.....

 

[lexus114]

"Would you run a carwithout a thermostat?" NO.

 

[SuperFast]

Originally Posted By: ahoier
Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Running lower temp stat or no stat will cause vehicle to use more fuel and more stuff building up in the engine.
Indeed. This is what I noticed when I originally purchased my 88 Dodge Aries (~29k on the clock at the time....now at ~34k).

The previous owner's ex apparantly insisted that no t-stat would allow for "better flow" - but what I found, was the car was running really rough, and the temperature gauge appeared "deactivated" - my stepdad (an ASE tech....but no "mechanic" of sorts....lol....if you know what I mean...) tore the front end apart, we changed out the coolant temperature sensor, and a coolant sending unit, and then went to pull apart the "t stat" housing to find no t-stat was even IN there......as I previously mentioned, he isn't too mechanically inclined....so we changed out the temperature sending unit, the coolant temperature sensor, the radiator fan motor BEFORE deciding to even look and see if the t-stat was even IN there....


And now, I took the car for an oil change yesterday, when they pulled it off the lift, they said I most likely have a blown head gasket....as they backed it off the lift, a black liquid substance came out of the tail pipe....

BUT, I haven't seen any coolant loss.....but I have noticed a loss in oil....no white smoke on start up....so I'm kind of baffled...


But yea, short answer, NO, do not run without a t-stat....if you are worried about the "flowability" restriction of the coolant through the t-stat...I _have_ read articles/posts where people will puncture a hole in the t-stat......but definitely keep the t-stat.....


Ahoier, as to the "balack liquid stuff out the tailpipe," Im there now. I too dont see steam or signs of HG, no bubbling coolant, no steam, no mustard, mayonnaise, etc I took the thermostat housing off, and it started doing that right after i did.

My plan:

1) PUT ON LOWER HOSE< refill with JUST WATER and a FLUSHING AGENT.
2) Put 196 degree STAT (195) back IN. Mae sure gasket is GOOD.
3) examine whats aoppenning. Maybe CHANGE THE OIL. See what it does! (how does it drive, etc.)

Re-assess. then: nEW PARTS, SPARK PLUG CHANGE, carb look at< ETC.

(?)

 

[rslifkin]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Get the system good and clean, then get the flushing stuff out and refill with 50/50 coolant and water. Don't leave the flush and water in too long, as you could damage the water pump seal from lack of lubrication.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


You should not be running without water/coolant. Even if the whole engine doesn't overheat, localized spots might.


Originally Posted By: CharlieJ
I think without a thermostat that the engine would take a long time to get to operating temperature.


Originally Posted By: rslifkin
It'll take forever to warm up, and probably not run warm enough, except under heavy load in hot weather. The corresponding colder running temps can make for more wear and can cause sludge due to low oil temps (can't burn off fuel and water contamination).

Why would you want to remove the t-stat?


Guys, He said that he's just running it to get the flush stuff mixed in. 5 or so minutes at a time. It's not going to warm up in 5 minutes with a thermostat anyway. It's not going to overheat in 5 minutes either.

 

[ltslimjim]

I had a LAME mechanic cause me some grief related to this.

I ran with a 'half'(broken off spring, only seal/gasket remaining) thermostat for 2 years. The car would only heat up during driving and would cool off quickly/stay near the blue mark. This was when I was in the league of car work for idiots, and now I'm trying to overcome it from ever happening again.

The good thing? The same vehicle is no longer my daily driver, before still saw less than 3k mile oil change intervals, and was spared sludge buildup(though I have gotten a lot of carbon deposits as a result partly).

Oh, yeah, replaced the t-stat about a month ago before changing over to Amsoil SSO on the Stratus, the car in question, but really mad I haven't been driving at full temp for 25k miles or so.