Defective Thermostat
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:17 am
Ever since I rebuilt my engine, with help, my engine temp would rise to 200 degrees on a hot SC day, but never go higher. With a small coolant leak at the base of the coolant neck, decided to just put in a 160 T stat from my parts box. So easy to remove the neck and T Stat, no need to remove and reseal the small outlet on top of the water pump, just easy to wiggle the neck off and clean the surfaces. I did find the new style T stat which has a brass "neck" to make it fit in the neck and fits into a shallow recess in the neck, was just slightly "proud" when test fit into the neck's rim. So put the brass fitting on a diamond stone, and took off a tiny bit, and then it fits perfectly in the recess. Probably the compressibility of the neck's gasket would have tolerated this fraction of a mm of the brass, but at least now all is well, no leaks. Proper sealant on the threads of course. Then I tested the opening of the old OEM tall, brass T Stat, which is stamped 180 degrees.
Sure enough, it popped open at right at 200 degrees! So was mis stamped when it was made. Later this spring I will put in a proper 180, after testing it, for more evaporation of volatile fuel and such that gets into my oil.
I suspect old timer, "shade tree" mechanics, would test a new T stat just for this reason. I had not pre-tested the OEM one when I installed it.
Hal, UpState SC
Sure enough, it popped open at right at 200 degrees! So was mis stamped when it was made. Later this spring I will put in a proper 180, after testing it, for more evaporation of volatile fuel and such that gets into my oil.
I suspect old timer, "shade tree" mechanics, would test a new T stat just for this reason. I had not pre-tested the OEM one when I installed it.
Hal, UpState SC