Thermostat -= Yes or No

jbc

jbc

Senior Member
I just had my radiator rodded out and I plan on replacing both the hoses. my question-should I continue run a thermostat. I have one in my old hose now, but sometimes it over heats on hills? Not many hills here in Florida, but last year in Tennessee, it was a little hilly.
 
You know here in Oklahoma I run one during the winter months just to help bring the car up to temp. If I don't the car never runs over 140 and sometimes when it is really cold not even that. It causes for unburned condensation to build up. I can't see where you would need one in FL.
 
There must have been a reason you had it rodded out, yes? Overheating? The t/stat, unless stuck had nothing to do with the overheating, as the others have said, re-install it. JMO
Paul in CT
 
Yes!!!


A thermostat allows the engine to heat up to operating temperature faster, and keeps the engine at a more constant temperature!!
 
Make sure that it has a 1/8 inch bypass hole drilled in the flange, so there is enough flow to allow the stat to sense the coolant temp and to prevent localized hot spotting in the head during warmup.

Some of us drill two bypass holes, just to be sure. Slows warmup somewhat but if you've ever seen explosive vaporization, you won't mind.

Steve
 
jbc said:
I just had my radiator rodded out and I plan on replacing both the hoses. my question-should I continue run a thermostat. I have one in my old hose now, but sometimes it over heats on hills? Not many hills here in Florida, but last year in Tennessee, it was a little hilly.
Click to expand...

I'm not real experienced in Model A's but am in industrial ventilation. If you take that stone guard off in front of the radiator I bet it won't overheat anymore. Yes air does go through it, but just imagine moving all the wires in that stone guard to the center, and see how much surface you have blocked.
 
steve s said:
Make sure that it has a 1/8 inch bypass hole drilled in the flange, so there is enough flow to allow the stat to sense the coolant temp and to prevent localized hot spotting in the head during warmup.

Some of us drill two bypass holes, just to be sure. Slows warmup somewhat but if you've ever seen explosive vaporization, you won't mind.

Steve
Click to expand...

Some of us drill 3 ;)
 
I ran one in my Cabriolet one Winter, and it was great on drive ability and warm up.

The first hot South Georgia day, the temp gauge rose alarmingly, so I pulled it out, no more problems. Mine does have the bypass hole, and perhaps it didn't open correctly, but in this heat and humidity (and Stone Guard) I'd rather rely on more water flowing unimpeded.

With Global Warming, I doubt I'll ever put it back in.
 
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