no thermostat - pros and cons

[munky30]

I'm currently running my car with no thermostat for various reasons (one of them being I dont want to spend money on an engine thats about to die).

I'm sure I remember reading that this can cause the engine not to cool right/evenly? Or am I thinking of another car...

[fuzzy]

less likely to overheat but will take much longer in the mornings to warm up.i used to run a cossie engine with no thermostat to no major disadvantage or damage.

[stickupkid11]

no real reason why you cant run an engine with out a thermostat in it, like fuzzy said just takes longer to warm up.

[munky30]

Doesnt it affect the flow rate and stop water getting to certain parts in an m20?

I know it can be done in other cars, I ran my mk1 golf without one for ages...

[Brianmoooore]

Running with no thermostat changes the flow around the water passages in the head, and is likely to lead to local boiling and a cracked head.
It will also result in a greatly increased fuel consumption and a loss of power.
Fuel savings alone will pay for a new stat in a week!

[munky30]

thats what I thought... wasnt sure if I'd read it on here or somewhere else.

Cheers brian. I'll be orf to coopers...

[dodgem]

I guess the same reasoning can be applied to a thermostat which is stuck mostly/completely open?

I've been running my 318iS like that for a couple of years now (with new thermostat in the boot!) and it's fecking freezing driving around in the winter!! Sounds like i should get off my arse and change it then

[munky30]

apparently not, as the water flow would be the same as normal once its warmed up?

It would just take longer to warm up.

[dodgem]

Hmmm ok then...

Still i must change it before it gets cold again (as i've promised myself the last two years) - It barely gets above the blue bit of the dial in the winter, and even stationary in the summer it doesn't quite make halfway! Seriously, it's rediculously cold driving like that in the winter

[Brianmoooore]

you will have badly worn the cylinder bores and rings by now, because of oil being washed away by excess fuel.

[dodgem]

Bugger!

Better start looking hard for a new engine then i guess! I presume the excess fuel would be from overfueling due to the engine being cold? Don't know a lot about engines - what does it mean in practical terms that the cylinder bores and rings are worn?

[munky30]

means its time to ditch the kiddy engine and put in a man size m20.