[DeTomaso] Subject: LAYDOWN OR STRAIGHT UP RADIATOR

MikeLDrew at aol.com MikeLDrew at aol.com
Mon Mar 26 18:59:54 EDT 2012


In a message dated 3/26/12 14 16 56, asajay at asajay.com writes:


> and after installing a freeze plug (press fit) in the hole so a normal 
> thermostat can be used.  Note this removes the bypass function and 
> leads to longer warm-up times.
> 

It does much more than that.   What it means is that (unless you have 
drilled holes in your thermostat), you have ZERO water movement inside the engine 
until the thermostat opens.   When the engine is cold, you start it up and 
the pump is just churning away, cavitating because the water can't go 
anywhere.   As the engine heats up, because there's no flow, it heats up unevenly, 
potentially allowing steam pockets to form.   Eventually the coolant warms 
up enough (via internal heat radiation) that the thermostat can open, then 
WHAM!   A blast of icy cold water from the radiator comes pouring into your 
steaming hot engine.   It runs around and hits the thermostat, and WHAM!   It 
slams shut, and the whole process repeats.

The engine is subjected to repeated super-hot-super-cold cycles until 
eventually the coolant is warm enough to keep the thermostat open all the time, 
and then eventually it reverts to normal operation.   But think of the 
thermal stress that you're subjecting the engine to!   And for what?   So that you 
don't have to run a 351C thermostat?

Makes no sense to me....

Mike


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