Let's discuss Thermostate modification to aid in cooling!

[Gpaw44]

Has anyone removed the plunger and spring in the thermostate and then replaced the thermostate? I know a very reliable mechanic that said he did this on his daughter car rather than remove the thermostate completely to help bring down engine heat.

 

[Terlingueno]

No, I have never done that...

 

[Grit dog]

I’d assume you were just throwing out some bait for comment but being a 9 year member here and a handle like gpaw you probably aren’t.
Don’t take advice from that mechanic….

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Would maybe work but that's just a bandaid not a fix. You have a problem if it's getting hot.

Gauges bad
Coolant needs changed
Fan clutch
Ever had any stop leak?
Ever flushed the cooling system?
Water pump is worn
Thermostat
Timing can too if the cooling system isn't healthy

 

[Ricko1966]

Has anyone removed the plunger and spring in the thermostate and then replaced the thermostate? I know a very reliable mechanic that said he did this on his daughter car rather than remove the thermostate completely to help bring down engine heat.

Now this is a legitimate temporary or diagnostic fix for a stuck or intermittently sticking thermostat. The reason is leaving the gutted thermostat in place restricts water flow. If tge water is moving to fast it doesn't get cooled by the radiator,because it doesn't spend enough time in the radiator. This problem with water speed won't even be a problem in many cars,but a gutted thermostat size restriction shouldn't be a problem in any car. Now there is one valid thing to consider,if the bypass in the waterpump/block is plugged(or never had one) AND tge heater core isn't plumbed as a bypass. You should drill some holes in the perimeter of the thermostat to act as a bypass until the thermostat opens. The common approach is 3x3/16ths holes. If you aren't having an overheating problem during the engine warm up period, bypass is not your problem.

 

[xm20k]

All he did was make a flow restrictor. All this will do is make it warm up slower than the rad will keep it under control from there, at least it should if not something isn't right, but this is typically a race thing because no heater to worry about and no stat to stick and cause the engine to boil over. In the winter it'll be cold blooded as all hell. At a point it might never make heat.

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[idahovette]

Have used a properly sized flat washer for a "flow restrictor"

 

[xm20k]

Have used a properly sized flat washer for a "flow restrictor"

I have a few here that are just a big brass washer with different size holes 1/2" 5/8" and 3/4"

 

[edgephoto]

You need the engine to run at the proper temperature. If you need to remove a thermostat to get it to not overheat you should fix the problem not do some hack “repair “. Find a new mechanic