Water Pump and Thermostat

[Pdwight]

and quite a bit of good information here to be had...many thaks guys.

So what is really happening is the Bell Curve of the operating temperature will just be different with the lower T Stat due to it opening sooner....been a long time since statistics.

[j.fro]

This is turning out to be a great thread!
So...if we weren't interested in the heater ever working, why not get rid of the T- stat all together? What do race cars need them for?
I think I know the answer, but I want to hear from the experts.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by j.fro

This is turning out to be a great thread!
So...if we weren't interested in the heater ever working, why not get rid of the T- stat all together? What do race cars need them for?
I think I know the answer, but I want to hear from the experts.

You can actually flow too much coolant at higher RPM's, and when moving too quickly past the radiators, will not have time to shed enough heat. A lot of racers replace the thermostat with a thin metal disc with holes drilled in it to control the flow rate without any chance of the unit failing as a thermostat can do at the most inopportune moment. Trick with using the metal plate is to find out how many of what sized holes are "just right" for your car with a given track and air temp. Going this route will also drastically slow the engine warm up time, particularly as the air temps drop.