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is it bad for a car to run without a thermostat?

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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 08:30 PM
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Default is it bad for a car to run without a thermostat?

me and my dad argue over this question, he figures that since we live in south florida(hot weather) that a car does not need it! i in the other hand say it does, can anyone shed some light on the subject! TIA
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 09:05 PM
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No its not ok.
No thermostat i would think the car would over heat way bad..maybe even cause bad problems.
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 09:38 PM
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Default Re: is it bad for a car to run without a thermostat? (smokey2.0)

Is it 195 degrees in Florida? Than yes, it matters. The engine is designed to run at a certain temperature for optimum emissions and performance. The faster is gets to that temperature, the better.

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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 09:43 PM
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Default Re: (USDMDC2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by USDMDC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No its not ok.
No thermostat i would think the car would over heat way bad..maybe even cause bad problems. </TD></TR></TABLE>I don't know if it would overheat but it might run hot under heavy loads. If any coolant moves too fast, it will not absorb and dissipate heat efficiently. This is why many cooling systems have built in restrictions to the heater core and other areas.
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 10:01 PM
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Default Re: (AngryTroll)

no problem at all only if you live in very cold areas, find out what the thermostat does u'll see.
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 10:25 PM
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Default Re: (TIRENECK)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TIRENECK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no problem at all only if you live in very cold areas, find out what the thermostat does u'll see.</TD></TR></TABLE>
that's what my father says, but i feel that having it makes the engine come up to operating temperature quicker!
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 10:32 PM
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Default Re: (TIRENECK)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TIRENECK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no problem at all only if you live in very cold areas, find out what the thermostat does u'll see.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not trying to flame, but maybe you should 'find out what the thermostat does'.
There is a reason Honda uses a non-linear thermostat and there is a reason the opening of the thermostat is a certain diameter. Look it up.
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 10:50 PM
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Default Re: (AngryTroll)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AngryTroll &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm not trying to flame, but maybe you should 'find out what the thermostat does'.
There is a reason Honda uses a non-linear thermostat and there is a reason the opening of the thermostat is a certain diameter. Look it up.</TD></TR></TABLE>
good point, i figure if it's there it has a purpose!
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 01:19 AM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

i just went though this.
With thermo = normal heating ( removed b/c I had a unrelated over heating prob. )
Without thermo = the temp sensor wouldn't even come off the resting position !! I have 2 fans that stay on all the time and a full size radiator.

I tool the car from 2-5mph to 120 and the guage lifted for like 5 seconds, then fell back down...

BTW I live in Lakeland, FL ( by Tampa ).
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 07:09 AM
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Default Re: (89dxhunchback)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 89dxhunchback &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just went though this.
With thermo = normal heating ( removed b/c I had a unrelated over heating prob. )
Without thermo = the temp sensor wouldn't even come off the resting position !! I have 2 fans that stay on all the time and a full size radiator.

I tool the car from 2-5mph to 120 and the guage lifted for like 5 seconds, then fell back down...

BTW I live in Lakeland, FL ( by Tampa ).</TD></TR></TABLE>
that's weird how the temperature gauge fluctuates, without the thermostat beign present. good info, thankx for your input
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 01:28 PM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

Your car will run super cool, not hot. But it will take forever to get up to operating temp if its somewhat cool outside. Since Florida is pretty hot, then it won't be that bad , but definately not the best thing to do.
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 01:39 PM
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Default Re: (AzSi22)

remember the good ole day when the dad always rip the thermostat out of the new car?

well, it's quite different today.

when the car's first fire up in the morning, the thermostat is close to allow max. heat with the shortest amount of time, there's bypass so it wouldnt overheat.

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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 01:53 PM
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Default Re: (2+2=5)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2+2=5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">remember the good ole day when the dad always rip the thermostat out of the new car?

well, it's quite different today.

when the car's first fire up in the morning, the thermostat is close to allow max. heat with the shortest amount of time, there's bypass so it wouldnt overheat.

</TD></TR></TABLE>that's what my dad is used to doing, but i always tell him not to. i did live in NY for some time, and i figured that having the thermostat present in the cold weather would make the car warm up quicker! is it a good or bad idea, to replace your OEM thermostat, with one made to open at a lower temperature rating?
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 02:07 PM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

stick with oem, the wax ball on that thermostat is design to give you the best temperture for your car. keep in mind, that's only if your car is not boosting

the thermostat will initally be close so the car would heat up ultra fast, yes the thermostat will be closed completely, the bypass passage/hose is gonna give some amount of flow/circulation so you wont have any "hot spot" in the motor,
once the engine temp is ready/operational, then the thermostat would open accordingly.


without the thermostat, it's gonna take alot longer to warm it up.
the fastest way to warm up the car is put it in light load, meaning drving under 2.5-3k rpm, you dont need to turn the car on for 10 minute before leaving home.

you shouldnt have much problem, since you in a sunny state.
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 03:36 PM
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Default Re: (2+2=5)

i let my car warm up before i get going, i sit there until the temperature gauge starts to move! it usually only takes 3 minutes, before it's warm! i really hate to have to take the car out, without warming it up, i guess is a old habit from when i lived in NYC!
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 03:55 PM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

like i said before, you dont need to "warm it up"
engine will warm up the fastest with light engine load.

oh yeah, 2+2=5 is my other account
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 05:26 PM
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Default Re: (iam7head)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">like i said before, you dont need to "warm it up"
engine will warm up the fastest with light engine load.

oh yeah, 2+2=5 is my other account</TD></TR></TABLE>
you got a point, but i rather let it seat with no load and warm up. i don't wanna pull out of my drive way, to have some A-hole try to run me off the road because i'm trying to warm up my engine!
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 07:22 PM
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Default Re: (USDMDC2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by USDMDC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No its not ok.
No thermostat i would think the car would over heat way bad..maybe even cause bad problems. </TD></TR></TABLE>

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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 01:41 AM
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Default Re: (zomart)

you MUST run a thermostat.

Coolant moving to fast through the engine will NOT exchange heat from the engine.

Water temps will read cold, but engine will be MELTING.
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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 09:16 AM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

Running w/o thermostat is a big NO-NO!

It will be very difficult to keep the engine oil up to temp, and therefore may cause the motor to run on a thicker-than-intended oil.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smokey2.0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
you got a point, but i rather let it seat with no load and warm up. i don't wanna pull out of my drive way, to have some A-hole try to run me off the road because i'm trying to warm up my engine!</TD></TR></TABLE>

II believe modern cars are designed so that they need to be driven to warm up properly.
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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 10:19 AM
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Default Re: (LudeyKrus)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudeyKrus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
II believe modern cars are designed so that they need to be driven to warm up properly. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, according to my ASE manual
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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 01:50 PM
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Default Re: (LudeyKrus)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudeyKrus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
II believe modern cars are designed so that they need to be driven to warm up properly. </TD></TR></TABLE>
like i said before, i let my car warm up it's an old habit i can't break
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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 01:57 PM
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Default Re: (smokey2.0)

is letting the car idle to warm up a bad idea then.
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Old Dec 6, 2003 | 02:00 PM
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without a thermistat the computer won't enter closed loop and will run your AFR rich and waste fuel.
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Old Dec 7, 2003 | 03:49 PM
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Default Re: (leftbehind33)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by leftbehind33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">without a thermistat the computer won't enter closed loop and will run your AFR rich and waste fuel.</TD></TR></TABLE>

who needs crusing anyway? it's all about gunning and reving up to 9k, third gear vtech..okay..seriously, i didnt know the thermostat got anything to do with that. well, i'll check that out myself later on.

by the way, closed loop operation is the cycle which the 2 oxygen sensor monitor the oxygen level in the exhaust gas, with that data on hand, the ECM can calculate the best fuel economy during cruise.
Just a little info

and about letting the car idle, I guess it wouldnt really hurt anything, car at idle doesnt really use up much gas, hardly any to be exact.
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