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1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
When I say that water flows too quickly through the rad, I mean it and I know it. I don't just ramble here. The t-stat function in a car is to regulate heat and allow heat to build up initially and then allow it to maintain at a constant WARM temperature thereafter. It is not meant to cool the engine, it is actually meant to keep it inside a range. It allows water to flow, but restricts it at the same time so it doesn't flow too fast. Try driving a car without a t-stat and you will see what happens. Initially it might take longer to warm up as engine coolant reservoir mixes with radiator reservoir coolant that should be isolated. Then when it heats up it cannot dissipate heat quickly enough. It is counterintuitive, but that is how it works.
Think about it though. If water rifles through a radiator and then immediately re-enters the engine without spending some time in the radiator it has no opportunity to exchange heat and it re-enters the engine hot. Then it just repeats the cycle and comes out hotter. The key to losing heat is spending quality time in the radiator. This happens when the t-stat restricts water speed. Ever wonder why the apperature is so small on a t-stat despite the fact that auto companies can design a larger apperature? Think that was a mistake? Do you really think a company that has a billion dollar budget would make that mistake? They have purposely designed a "bottleneck" into the system. That is part of the reason why Saabs don't like after-market t-stats. The same concept in reverse is used in the boiler in your house. Water is heated and kept in long enough with the heat or it comes out cool. The hot air cannot dissipate its heat into the water unless it is given time. In fact, the hot air in your boiler needs to be collected and recircluated through the water by a special device so it gets a second chance to do just that, because it too needs to spend quality time to unload its heat. I had this proved to me in fact and not just theory from every once in a while having an employee forget to replace a damned t-stat in a big block. The engines would go nuts.
I have owned and repaired more cars than I can remember. I have dealt with more engine teardowns and rebuilds than I care to recall. I had a part interest in an auto shoppe. You need to assess things like that before going all wordy on this or any BB. I have never slammed you, despite the occassional urge to correct you on several things like your views on alternator longevity or preventative maintenance vs foolishly letting things wear out. I would appreciate the same courtesy.
posted by 24.66.94...
, Thu, 13 Feb 2003 12:12:16, Thu, 13 Feb 2003 15:41:30
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