11 replies to this topic

[sean552uk]

Hi I have recently been cleaning up and giving a general service to my 1275cc engine I bought, it’s a standard engine from a 1992 British open mini classic. I was advised it would be best to change the thermostat for a new one as part of the service, but when I removed the thermostat housing there was not one in there? Is this normal for this type of engine? If it should have a thermostat is it a standard 74 degree one?

[E-Tizzle]

ive got a 998 and mine didnt have one in either.
my dad said that in ye olde days when cars used to overheat, they would remove the thermostat as it would allow the water to go to the rad and be cooled instantly. instead if waiting for it to get to temp and then go to the rad.

but this is by no means a certain fix and probably more of a bogde.
and it may not be the reason yours hasnt got, i just thought i would throw my 2 pence in there

[bmcecosse]

Possibly removed by PO as a 'fix' for an overheating engine. Yes - it should have a stat - I suggest 74 for summer - and 88 or 92 for winter. Without it - the back end of the block is not properly cooled - and the front end over-cooled.

[toni6669]

I think it should have one if not it's going to take ages to warm the engine. I agree with tizzle. You can fitted back and check if it overheats if not you can fit a blanking plate Click

[E-Tizzle]

I think it should have one if not it's going to take ages to warm the engine. I agree with tizzle. You can fitted back and check if it overheats if not you can fit a blanking plate Click

what does that do?
or should i say how does that work - (i read the description of what it does lol)

how can it blank if its got a whacking great whole in the middle?

[toni6669]

I think it should have one if not it's going to take ages to warm the engine. I agree with tizzle. You can fitted back and check if it overheats if not you can fit a blanking plate Click

what does that do?
or should i say how does that work - (i read the description of what it does lol)

how can it blank if its got a whacking great whole in the middle?

The blanking plate what it does is prevents the overheating of the cylinders 3 and 4, I've never used, but I guess that slows the speed of the cooling flow, so the engine cools even, but you better of doing what bmcecosse said

[MRA]

No it doesn't slow the flow it directs it towards the rear ie no's 3 & 4 giving a much more even temperature, however it does take longer to heat up, so it not good for engien wear or fuel economy.

[MRA]

Also you really should be fixing the issue and not trying to bypass the fault........... you wouldn't get a walking stick to aid walking if you had broken your leg.... you would fix your leg first

[sean552uk]

Thanks for the replys, i thought it should have one. if it was removed because of an over heating problem it must have been done quite a while ago because the bolts where seized in well, what is the common causes for an over heating engine?

[MRA]

retarded ignition, weak mixture, blockage within the radiator fins or anywhere that the water runs could also be blocked and therefore not removing the heat

Could also be a slipping fan belt, or a damaged fan or pump.

[Ethel]

... and of course a stuck thermostat.

Having no thermostat won't stop it overheating, it will just delay the inevitable.

Don't overlook the radiator cap either, it won't make the engine run any cooler but it does increase the temperature at which it boils over. If you had a weak pressure cap it wouldn't take much for the hottest bits of the water jacket to get to enough degrees above the thermostat rating to start boiling.

[MRA]

Yes especially as thermostats fail open

If the cap is leaking or any other part of the system for that matter, then the water will boil quicker, the pressure raises the temperature at which the water boils, so fitting a higher pressure cap could be the answer, or fixing a leak....... even a small one