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Logical (hopefully) explanation. Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Follow up question for you Ari, AK Colin, Wed, 1 Mar 2006 12:04:48 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The thermostat open at a certain temperature - and that temperature is it's local temp.
When the car is first started, all the coolant is cold. With the thermostat closed, the coolant on the engine side starts to warm up. But the coolant on the radiator side of the thermostat is still cold. The thermostat is going to see some ratio of that temperature. Yes, the active part of the thermostat is stuck into the coolant, but there will be some heat pulled out it by the body of the thermostat. The thermostat body is also thermally connected to the engine block, which doesn't warm up as fast as the coolant. Or at least, not out on the edges where the thermostat lives - the heat is in by the cylinders.
So the coolant has to get a bit hotter than the opening temp of the thermostat for the thermostat to open. As that warm coolant starts to circulate and the block heats up, there is no big temperature drop across the thermostat.
That also explains why the temperature swings get smaller as the engine warms up.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
posted by 192.249....
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