[Healeys] Thermostats

Fri Sep 14 11:43:25 MDT 2018

You will only notice it if you look at the temp gauge.  After 40 years of working on many many cars you would be amazed how many people have no idea what their gauges are telling them, and NEVER look at them.

I have had cars come in with almost no oil in the engine and the warning lights flashing at them when they go around a corner. And they have no clue that there is almost no oil in the engine.

Or the Healey that comes in and the oil pressure at idle is sitting at ZERO and they had no clue that it was that low.

David Nock
healeydoc at sbcglobal.net
209 948 8767
www.britishcarspecialists.com

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From: Kees Oudesluijs 
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2018 2:58 AM
To: healeys at autox.team.net 
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Thermostats

OEM thermostats when fail they do so closed. With other thermostats it can be open, closed or in between. Anyway when a thermostat fails, which is not very often, you soon notice the result on the temperature gauge!!

Kees Oudesluijs

Op 13-9-2018 om 16:14 schreef Bob Spidell:

  One other consideration:  I have heard--note: hearsay--that the OEM sleeved stats are of the 'fail closed' variety.  Have seen modern ones called 'fail open' or, even 'failsafe.'

  FWIW.

  Bob

  On 9/11/2018 3:44 PM, Roger Grace wrote:

    Steve,
    Yes agree with your take on the 160 F thermostats. The only possible benefit is that if you start with a lower coolant temp, when you hit traffic, it will take longer before the dreaded over temp zone is approached.
    As an aside, I have installed an oil temp gauge; very useful and a reminder just how long the engine (not coolant) takes to get up to temp. Trying to get in the habit of not going over 2000 RPM till OT is about 120F – often another 15-20 mins after the thermostat opens. 
    rg

    From: BJ8Healeys 
    Sent: Monday, September 10, 2018 12:44 PM
    To: 'healeys' 
    Subject: Re: [Healeys] Thermostats

    Fred, I personally believe a 160-deg. F thermostat used in an effort to "cool down" a Healey is useless.  A thermostat responds only to the temperature of the coolant flowing through it by opening up to increase coolant flow, and once it is open all the way at 160+, it is out of the loop and can't open further to cool more.  I am on the NC coast where winters are mild.  I once tried a 160 (non-sleeved) because I had one that someone gave me.  My BJ8 ran so cold that winter that I actually had to block part of the radiator to raise it to anywhere near normal.  Up there in the NC mountains, that would be even more of a problem for you.

    I use a 187 F (86 C) New Old Stock AC sleeved thermostat (AC part number 1572320) that I was able to score from lister Kees Oudesluijs.  I installed it along with an upgraded core in the radiator at the same time, so I can't really say how much improvement the thermostat alone did; but since the modification my car runs consistently at 170 - 180 in the hot summers of the NC coast, except when in stop-and-go traffic when it might make it to 190 or a bit above.  In winter, it runs at 160 - 170.  I can see the sleeve operate as the car warms up because the gauge will cycle between 160 and 190 until coolant temperature stabilizes.  That can take up to 50 miles.

    A friend placed an order later with Kees for several of the 190 F sleeved thermostats.  I got one of those as a spare.  Don't know if he has any left, or can get more.  As far as I know, the only sleeved thermostats available from the usual suspects are 160s and I wouldn't waste my money on them.

    I just Googled the AC part number and came up with this source:

    https://tinyurl.com/y9c6n53h

    Unfortunately, it does not post to the USA (but on the bright side, it offers free shipping!).  Maybe you could work out a deal with a UK lister to buy one for you and ship it to you.  £19.99 = $26.04 

    Steve Byers

    HBJ8L/36666

    BJ8 Registry

    AHCA Delegate at Large

    Havelock, NC  

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