i had a napa brand thermostat in my engine for the longest time. it usually ran 90-95*C depending on how hard i was running it. i recently put a mazda oem thermostat in it. it's keeping the temp 83-85*C. i haven't had a chance to get on it any since the change. i was just wondering if a lower water temp would give a little more power, or if it will just help keep the motor living longer.

 

Are you serious? Not to be a dick but you have 897 post? You think that you would know that anything that makes the car run cooler would help performance.

 

Are YOU serious? Post count tells you nothing. Don't assume people know crap cause of a high post count or know nothing cause of a low one.

I have 3000+...I don't know crap. You can be too cold for a car and it will affect the car. Those temps are good, just before the thermo opens wide. You are ok.

 

exactly...

thermal efficiency plays a big part in an engine's performance... if you run too cold you will actually LOSE power

I'd say that you're in the right range with the OEM thermostat.

 

According to the racing beat manual you now running the correct temperatures !!!

 

Exactly.

It's sad that people relate knowledge to post count...

 

I believe it's generally considered more efficient to run at hotter temperatures because you lose less combustion heat to the coolant.

However, you run a bigger chance of detonation if you run hotter.

In general.

On the other hand, I have been told by other racers that rotary engines make more power the colder they run. The car pulls very hard early in the race but as the temps come up it feels like it runs out of breath.

I wish I knew the answer but mine runs cold and I like the safety factor.

ed

 

The problem is mixing apples and oranges. While cool intake temps make better power, this thread is more discussion the operating temp of the engine which is different.

Many factors come into play with cooler engine temps (as in the oil not being warm enough to lubricate as well, combustion as you mentioned, etc). IMO, there is a reason Mazda has the thermostat open when it does.

 

i am by no means an idiot. i've single handidly built my car. i was just wondering if anyone thought i might be able to feel the slight change in water temp through the gas pedal. i know about thermal efficiency and combustion temp.

 

I agree w/Mahjik. But, I suppose a notieceable power difference is possible. Not necessarily because of the thermodynamics of it all. It's possible the ECU is pulling timing in reaction to a hotter block temp.

 

I was actually talking about coolant temperature. Some rotary road racers I know say that the engine loses power as water temp gets hotter.

I have not felt this myself but my water temps stay fairly constant throughout a race. If I am losing power, I'm losing more speed to overheated tires so I can't tell.

I run a stock thermostat. My temps do not rise. I would also like to know if different thermostats would make a noticeable difference.

I tend to doubt it would be noticeable.

ed

 

You will be fine at those temps. The Mazda OEM thermostat is the way to go.

 

That's what I was saying. I think some people confuse their coolant temps with intake temps. Most people monitor coolant temps an not necessarily intake temps. On a cooler day, you'll make more power as well as have lower coolant temps. If you are only monitoring your coolant temps, it seems that since you have cooler coolant temps, you are making more power. However, is it the coolant temps doing it or the intake temps making the extra power? Most likely intake temps.

A lot of track guys notice a loss of power in the latter parts of their sessions from their IC's heating up but their coolant temps stay the same (i.e. intake temp).

 

the temp its at should be fine. to low you'll run inefficiently