Anyone drivin without there thermostat?
 

Im thinking about doing it, my temp will hit up to 3/4 in the 80 degree weather. Ive replaced everything except for the rad. I cant afford it right now, I just changed my fluid but I didnt flush it. thats why Im gonna do it again in a couple days. I was just wondering if anyone currently has there thermostat out and how their temp is doing.

I hear liquid nitrogen does wonders, er don't quote me on that. ;) I've heard of a couple people running without the thermostat, though engines do like to heat up to about halfway between the gauge, I think you should be fine for a short-term solution. However, I am no expert, and I disclaim any responsibility :)

i have a gutted thermostat, they say its not good for the car cause it never reaches operating temperature. but i did it and the car rarely gets 1/2 way now.

Gut it dont remove it

gutting thermostat
 

And how do I go about gutting my thermostat?

www.mazdamotorsports.com has an article on it

I'm no expert either, but it doesn't hurt to try taking out yer thermostat... Throw it in a pan and boil it.. see if it works properly while it's out..

all u have to do is just clip the side legs off and leave the actual housing there. when u cut the legs off the spring will come off and all you will have is the housing.

A thermostat that is working properly will not be the cause of overheating. Look elsewhere for the actual cause of the problem. Don't use half-assed band-aid methods.

My car doesn't have a thermostat. The previous owner took it out to try to cure an overheating problem. Then I bought the car and put in a fluidyne radiator and changed the water pump and I hardly see the gauge go up to 1/3, and I am in a damn fire hole down here.

The thermostat is there to bring the engine up to operating temp as quickly as possible and then maintain a constant temp regardless of cooling load and outside conditions. This minimises fuel usage (from enrichment when cold) and reduces engine wear, and keeps the engine running at its most efficient temperature. It also slows the coolant flow to a speed that maximises cooling capacity.
A properly working thermostat will not be the cause of cooling problems and it certainly won’t cause your car to overheat! The fact that every automotive engine has one should give you a clue. Why everyone wants to rip them out or gut them is completely beyond me...

Hey I actually want one, but haven't had the time or efforts to put one in. Kind of a pain in the ass when you always are going somewhere and can't leave your car sit.

I heard your heater will work like shit without a thermostat. Not a big deal in florida or CA, but here in cali I use my defrost in the morning alot. Something to consider.

My experience with no thermostat is that your car will overheat!! The thermostat housing works as a (for lack of a better term right now) bridge in the cooling system.

What I am saying is basically when you take the thermostat all the way out the water/coolant cannot flow around the engine properly and just flows from the water pump to the radiator and back again. You might not notice how hot your engine is because the WTR Temp sensor is in the radiator and that water is most likely cool. If you drove it on the circuit or long trips you would probably find that pressure would build up and our car would suddenly overheat, almost without warning.

This is why people gut them instead of taking it out.

Randy....

If you entirly remove the thermostat the engine will not cool properly, and will tend to have hot spots which will cause early failure.

The cooling system in rotarys and many small engines need the pressure to be un-even on each side to flow through the engine properly.

If you are convinced that you must drive with "enhanced cooling" that you think running without a thermostat gives you, then use a thermostat that you gut. The reduced opening size (compaired to a missing one) will help cooling the entire motor more effectively.

But a properly functioning thermostat is the best bet for anything but a track car.

Joe
 

Dude check your PM's I need to get that stuff off you so i can hit the road.. or return my calls.. Dave

With mine, when my thermostat went bad, the temp guage would skyrocket and just to take a short trip, I'd have to drive with the heater full blast in 90 degree weather just to keep the damn thing from blowing up. Took me 10 minutes to replace it, and now the guage stays around 1/3 and never goes above 1/2. Hell, one of the best $15 investments I've ever made.

RANZO.....the water temp sensor is in the rear side housing approx 1/2 inch from the oil pressure sender. And I've taken the thermostat out to troubleshoot overheating (was indeed a bad thermostat) and run for weeks without one while waiting for a new one. If you suspect a stuck one, take it out and drive the car for a comparison. Not recommended for long time use though. Say months at a time. Get a used radiator if your short of cash. Just hope the poor boob didn't put any radiator sealer in it. I've got a wrecking yard radiator in my 87 and it runs in the lower quarter in the summer in Texas.

Get rid of it and then stick a piece of wood in the hole inside the fuel pump (broomhandle will do). My temp does not even get close to the halfway mark.

Stick a broomhandle in the FUEL pump.
Now THERE'S the way to fix an overheating car! It won't run!! :)

if you've read anything I've written above, you'll know keeping the temps down is only part of the thermostat's job, and how stupid that suggestion is...

Hmm thanks for the info. I have always wondered what that plug was. On the Japanese engines they are different shapes between Zenki and Kouki. I have ran 87-88 model engines in 90-92 model cars and could not connect the connector but the guage still worked.

What is the wire for that comes out of the top of the radiator??

Coolant level. It operates the "add coolant" idiot light and buzzer.

ive been runing mine without one for like 6 or 7 months, the gauge NEVER goes over 1/4 even under racing and high speed conditions, during normal driving it will barely clear the C :)

only side effect i noticed with removing it was the car takes a tad bit longer to start

That is BAD for your engine!