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Posted by: trekkor May 22 2004, 01:57 PM

While walking around in my engine compartment, I noticed the t-stat is not connected. The flapper is spring loaded and in the HOT position ( right? ).

Will I have any problems other than slower warm-ups?

Posted by: Otmar May 22 2004, 02:22 PM

People will certainly have different opinions on this.
As I understand it, you will have shorter engine life and worse gas mileage since your engine may spend a lot of time running too cold.
It is quite common to leave them disconnected, but it's also quite common for engines to run poorly and suffer early deaths.
Just my 2°

Posted by: McMark May 22 2004, 03:01 PM

No you don't need one, yes you should have one.

Posted by: SirAndy May 22 2004, 03:37 PM

i have mine disconnected and glued down so it always stays full open.

dunno. i don't drive just to the corner liquor store and back so the car usually get's warmed up OK.
plus, it doesn't get all that cold here in CA anyways.

to me, it seems like just one less thing to worry about.

it's not like our engines like to run too hot or something,
Andy

Posted by: SirAndy May 22 2004, 03:39 PM

that, i'm not sure about!!!!

mine are glued DOWN (which is the hot position) to make sure they stay there.
Andy

Posted by: Elliot Cannon May 22 2004, 04:06 PM

Hi,
I'm pretty sure they fail to the "hot engine" position. This is incase the wire breaks. If the wire breaks, you may not know about it until the engine gets really, really hot!
Cheers, Elliot

Posted by: Elliot Cannon May 22 2004, 04:08 PM

I guess I meant to say if the wire breaks in the "engine cold" position. Thats why it fails to the hot position. Anyway, I agree. You don't need it but ya should have it.
Elliot

Posted by: trekkor May 22 2004, 04:13 PM

Elliot, I hope you mean that a broken t-stat cable leaves the car in a safe position with max cooling available full time.

Posted by: SirAndy May 22 2004, 04:17 PM

for some reason, i thought it was the OPPOSITE ...

you better check
flaps need to be DOWN for max cooling ...
Andy

Posted by: trekkor May 22 2004, 04:28 PM

The car NEVER overheats...Even when I give it the beating of a lifetime!

I can move the flaps by hand and they always snap back into "The Position".

Posted by: MarkV May 22 2004, 04:48 PM

They fail in the open position. The thermostat on my car was disconnected when I bought it. It doesn't get that cold here either but the car runs way better with the thermostat installed.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon May 22 2004, 06:35 PM

Okay. It fails in the "max cool" or "engine hot" position. When the engine is cold it restricts cooling air. When the engine is hot it allows max cooling air. I thought about rigging mine up with a manual adjustment like an aircraft cowl flap. With my luck though, I'd forget to open it and roast my new motor. I installed a new cyl. head temp. gauge that works pretty neat. Easy intallation. Highly recomended.
Cheers, Elliot