I understand the mazda therm for the rx7 has a little plunger washer looking like thing at the bottom of it while most cars don't


ended up needing a thermostat for my car and mazda charged more then twice what I could get one from schucks so figured I woudl buy that for now till I get more money (unemployed right now)

it still has the little washer like thingy at the bottom and is rated at 195*

is there really going to be a problem using that?
right now the car runs fine where before it would take FOREVER to warm up usually about 15 min

hell once when I was driving in about 5* temps I NEVER hit normal operating temps but once and it fell back down below the line quick.
as it sits now I usually sit at about 1/4 or so most the time while every now and then it might hit just a tad under 1/2 if it is around 40-50* outside



but really is there anything I need to watch out for or am I going to be just fine?

 

If it seems to be working for you then good. It is just that the majority of the non Mazda OEM thermostats seem to either not work, not work correctly or just dont last.

 

if i do have problems will easily replace it with OEM unit

just don't see what the problem would be as long as the plunger thing is there I'm sure other ppl know how to make a thermostat


what is the plunger thingy for anyway?

 

I have been using the Stant thermos for a few years now. If I have a car with an overheating problem, I drop one of those in and it more than fixes it. In my 86, my temp guage hasn't made it past the 1/4 mark.
I don't understand why people have so many problems with them. I've had nothing but great results.

 

I have seen the Stants fail in many rotary engines within 6 months. I am glad your's is still working for you.

What is your coolant mix and type?

And the temp gauge should be at around 1/3 of so on a S4... so your engine might be running too cold (until the Stant fails).

 

And you know... what is the big deal on using an aftermarket one???

I mean come on, the stock thermostat is what $12 - maybe $20 if you have a local dealer that really likes to rip you off... (although Mazda list price is only $16 for it, and Mazdaformance.com has them for $11).

Vs a $5 to $6 Stant brand aftermarket one...

I mean come on... the price between one that has been proven over and over to work right (the Mazda one) vs anything aftermarket which have been consistently shown to fail early in life is less than a half tank of gas.

Are you that cheap???

 

I've been using a Napa 170* thermostat in my rebuild for 5 months and 4k miles of _typical_ rotary driving. The temp never exceeds 180F, according to the VDO gauge tapped into the thermo housing.

 

Beat me to it.

I had an aftermarket one in because of an emergency. Well, after that experience I decided to always have an extra OEM thermo around. The few bucks that you save are not worth the hassle.

 

The older Mazda thermostats were quality items. The one I bought from MazdaMotorsport last summer was nearly indistinguishable from a Stant. I called them up to see if I could get "one of the good ones", they said they're all the same now. Mazda is cost-saving just like everyone else.

My Rx7 is a track racer, I wanted the best cooling I could get. The Stant is adequate.

ed

 

you want to send me about 17 bucks?
I'm not going to have it anytime soon


I have no job
my only source of income is donating plasma right now till I get a job
and I don't get much money from that
hell I was lucky to buy the stant

so icemark wanna send my cheap *** who is only trying to save the money I don't even have $17 so I could buy a mazda OEM thermostat?

 

Hey, since about a year ago, my only source of income is from the parts I sell... The last three articles I sold, only one could afford to pay me half of what I normally get, so don't try and play the I am broke card on me. Been there, done that, doing that. (Damm that messed up clueless President... but that is another thread)

If you are that broke, go to a junk yard and pull one from a wrecked one there.

And if you have a stant... then just keep an eye on the temp gauge and coolant level all the time, until you can afford the right one.

But again lets face it... the price difference between a stant and a Mazda thermostat is about the same as a medium to good quality 6 pack of beer. And the Mazda Thermostat is gonna last a lot longer than the 6pack

 

mm beer.... Sorry, you got me distracted

 

[If you are that broke, go to a junk yard and pull one from a wrecked one there.

And if you have a stant... then just keep an eye on the temp gauge and coolant level all the time, until you can afford the right one.

But again lets face it... the price difference between a stant and a Mazda thermostat is about the same as a medium to good quality 6 pack of beer. And the Mazda Thermostat is gonna last a lot longer than the 6pack [/B][/QUOTE]

So will the Stant Thermostat. But the point is if you don't have to spend the extra cash to buy a reliable thermostat. My stant has been in my car for at least 2 years.

 

I have a stant therostate as if I recall correctly (yellow box?) I have it in my car for the last year and it has been working flaulessly, its rated at 195 I believe, but for what its worth I have a madza OEM one from Mazdamotorsports if that one fails

 

lol least you have income :p


and yes I was planning on getting the mazda one
did some looking into my money income which is almost nil after gas and everything else so went with what I could afford and the extra 10 bucks would have really really hurt me and taken about 2-3 weeks to recover from it
thats sad
will keep an eye on it though no problem there

usually do after I did the whole overheating episode when the waterpump went out..... man coolant seals are still good even after a few stints past the top red line

 

oh yeah forgot to post what was that little plunger thingy for?