1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Over-cooling?

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Old May 14, 2003 | 02:17 AM
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Question Over-cooling?

Hi everyone,
My series 1 RX7 12a 6-port runs very cool, the temperature sits around the bottom of the guage most of the time while I'm traveling, only going up to 1/4 - 1/2 way when I'm not pushing much air through the radiator. [town driving/idling for long periods]
I am told that RX7's have more-than-sufficient cooling from factory, and that my thermostat is stuck open allowing a constant flow of coolant through the engine/radiator.

I assume the temperature guage/thermometer is working properly based on the observable rise in temp at low airspeeds.

My question is, Is this bad? Can engine internals be cooled down to damaging cold-start levels? Is it worth changing the thermostat, or am I just lucky that it isn't stuck CLOSED?

TIA
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Old May 14, 2003 | 03:13 AM
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Your engine is trashed, mail it to me. I'll pay shipping and properly dispose of it.

OOOOoooo 12A 6 port... Nice... We never got that.

I'd wager that yes, your thermostat is stuck open. No it isn't extremely bad, but your gas milage (What do metric countries call it? Kilometerage?) might go down some.

Anywhozer... On our 83-85 12A's, we had this crappy oil-water cooler mounted under the oil filter. It was barely adequate for the stock engine. But it had a taller radiator to make up for the extra load on the water cooling system. As a reliability mod, or for upgraded engines, we usually swap out for the older setup or on 1984/85 cars, they have an extra bracket for an oil-air cooler as these cars came optional with the 13B.

On our 79-82's we had a short radiator with an oil-air cooler mounted directly below it. This radiator was thicker and could ahve three row cores added to it. Stock, however was two.

One thing I wanted to try and make was a three row core tall style radiator.

Take the mounting brackets off the newer radiator, the end tanks off the older one, and have a radiator shop put in a three row core at the same height as the two row one used in the tall radiator.
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Old May 14, 2003 | 10:49 PM
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Either did we, the engine is out of a Cosmo, probably from Japan.

heh kilometerage - fuel economy here is usually measured in Litres per 100km.
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Old May 14, 2003 | 10:53 PM
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From: Austin, Texas
ive got a 12a 6 port and intake sitting in my garage
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Old May 14, 2003 | 11:00 PM
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I'd change the thermostat. Being stuck open doesn't affect fully warmed up temps much. Only it takes longer to get there. Liek they say, most engine damage occures when it's cold
I had a thicker SE rad in my car. The gauge never went past 1/4 - 1/3. I never had a problem with this, besides no heat in the winter. I did have an electrical fan, so it warmed up fairly quickly.
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