The pro and con thermostat debate has raged on and off in our shop for
years now. We have consulted many so called experts and done some
pretty basic testing of theories and have come to the conclusion that
if your engine was designed to use a thermostat, you will get the best
results by using a thermostat! If you have an overheating problem you
should run some basic checks BEFORE throwing parts at your car. (Or any
other kind of problem for that matter). I have owned a '65 1098cc
Sprite for about 10 years now. Live right here in Nashville, TN and
during the summer it will occasionally break 100 degrees F. Sometimes
when I'm pushing the Sprite pretty hard (which is not unusual on Car
Club runs) it will reach 230 degrees on the gauge. Problem? Nope! Cast
iron engines will not suffer any undue wear or stress at temperatures
even higher than this IF the cooling system is working properly! A lot
of Club members get scared and pull over if the temp breaks 200! During
normal driving the Sprite likes 190-210. I will mention it is dead
stock and original. Radiator was serviced (not replaced) when cooling
system was restored in 1990. Flushed everything, new hoses T stat and
coolant. Carbs set right, timing right, heat shield in place. I find it
hard to believe there is a vapor lock problem on the pressure side of a
fuel pump. Vapor lock was a problem back in the old days when the pump
was mounted on the side of the engine and the vacuum line was quite
long. Vacuum lowers boiling point, pressure raises boiling point. Box
body Sprite pumps are in the back of the car so if your car exhibits
vapor lock symptoms you'd better check pump volume and pressure. Surely
you have a delivery problem. Trash in tank or pump I suspect. One last
note. If moving the coolant through the radiator slower causes it to
lose more heat, would the coolant not gain more heat as it moved
through the engine slower? Or does your coolant travel at different
speeds? Sorry for the long post. Just my 2c. JD
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