[Mgs] The Continuing Quest to Cool my MGA

[Barrie Robinson]

Max,

I am always amused at some advise that one gets re thermostats.  My 
MGB GT V8 blew right at the gates at the Peace Bridge (on the way to 
the British V8 do in Willoughby, Ohio).  The guards were very nice 
and pushed me through - but one, an old car chap, said I should 
change my thermostat to 190 instead of the 170 !!  This is akin to 
people turning the thermostat up (beyond the required temp) in houses 
when they wish the house to get warmer quicker!!!

At 08:06 PM 8/5/2007, Max Heim wrote:
>If his coolant temp is actuallly reaching 212 at speed, changing the
>thermostat to a lower temp will make no difference.
>
>I keep seeing this misconception, again and again. Look, people -- if your
>coolant temperature NEVER EXCEEDS the rating of your thermostat, then yes,
>the thermostat is the controlling factor. But guess what -- if that were the
>case, you wouldn't have an overheating problem, would you? The temperature
>would not be exceeding 190, or 180, or whatever.
>
>If the temperature DOES exceed the rating of the thermostat, than the
>thermostat is NOT a factor (except in the rare case where a faulty
>thermostat is stuck closed or partially closed). So changing to a lower
>temperature rated thermostat will have NO EFFECT on the problem.
>
>'nuff said.
>
>
>--
>
>Max Heim
>'66 MGB GHN3L76149
>If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>it's the primer red one with chrome wires
>
>
>on 8/4/07 5:10 PM, Oliver at sumton at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>
> > could you have too hot a thermostat?  try removing it and seeing
> > if you still have problems.  O'Reilly's insists that my cars have 
> 190 degree
> > t stats; i have to ask special for a 180 or lower.
>_______________________________________________
>barrie at look.ca
>
>Edit your replies
>
>Mgs at autox.team.net
>http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/mgs

Regards
Barrie

Barrie Robinson
(705) 721-9060
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/BarrieRobinson.htm