The 160 is for the summer time, so when the coolant reaches about
160 during warming up the thermostat opens allowing the coolant to pass
into the radiator for cooling. The 180 is the standard, I believe.
Meaning that it doesn't matter what season it is used...
I don't think having no thermostat would cause overheating. It would
produce opposite effects if any. With no thermostat the car is being
cooled even before it warms up. So if it is really cold out your car
might not even reach normal operating temps. At warmer temps it will
take a bit longer to reach normal operating temp. Overheating may be
due to a dirty coolant system. You should flush it and see if that
helps...
Tom
--- Michael Graziano <mgrazian@ltcm.com> wrote:
>
> Hey all. Just a quick question, and a quick
> story.....
>
> 1. WHat's the difference between a 160 degree and a
> 180 degree thermostat
> besides 20 degrees? i.e. which should be used when?
> And when I went to
> change mine, I found that the DPO didn't have one
> installed. Is this
> indicative of overheating problems?
>
> 2. The quick story. Spent the weekend working on
> the car, getting ready
> for Moss' Britfest. I decided that the valve cover
> should be painted. So i
> take it off, and paint it. WHile it's drying, I
> decide to use the time and
> get some other things done. To make a long story
> short, I finally got
> around to putting in the 180 degree thermostat i
> bought (only one the store
> had). Open the spot where it goes and .... whoosh
> antifreeze spills right
> down the #1 valve push rod. Now what, I rush to
> put the thermostat in and
> get the water out, when I drop the lock washer for
> the thermostat housing.
> Plink, right into the hole where the connecting rod
> goes. Now what the hell
> was I to do. An hour later, and a long #12 solid
> copper wire with a little
> hook on it with the help of a mityvac to get the
> antifreeze out, and I was
> saved from removing my first head. Folks, it just
> doesn't pay to screw
> around doing anything else with that valve cover
> off. Lesson learned.
>
> Michael
>
> '78 Midget 1500
> '87 300zx
>
>
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