The Ford Barn - View Single Post - To Stat or Not To Stat? That is the question.

Tom Walker · 08-11-2013, 05:09 AM

Prof Henry, this is a very interesting thread, and thank you for posting your research, photos etc, it is much better to get out there and test stuff than post opinion/speculation.

Lets face it, nine times out of ten thermostats only became an issue when yr old jalopy with a badly maintained cooling system boiled on a hot day. So what did you do? Pulled out the stat(s) because a) its more than likely stuck open/shut/somewhere in between, and, whatever, it was getting in the way of the coolant! A new thermostat which worked, and a cleaned out system/new rad core would have solved the problem. It was a time/money thing.

The way I see it, your thread has dealt with two separate issues. 1) Is the V8 subject to a flow restriction when its thermostats (of whatever design) are open and 2) does it matter to the long term health of our engines if we don't fit thermostats at all.

For 1), you certainly don't have a cooling problem with your motor with fully open NAPA 111's. If you can run up a steep hill in second gear in 90 degrees, with not much air going through your radiator, without boiling, your cooling system is working well! I suspect not all old Ford owners could say that...

for 2) if you can be bothered, it would be great if you could do the reverse test...ie the Sherwen stats against your NAPA 111's, against no stats on a cold winter day in Utah, then we can see what works in those conditions....and even better with an oil temp gauge fitted, because the main problem with running too cool is that the oil takes a long time to get warm, and may not ever get up to correct temperature, which is just about the worst thing for an engine. Over to you...!

Cheers, Tom.

08-11-2013, 05:09 AM	#55
Tom Walker Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Leicester. UK Posts: 404	Re: To Stat or Not To Stat? That is the question. Prof Henry, this is a very interesting thread, and thank you for posting your research, photos etc, it is much better to get out there and test stuff than post opinion/speculation. Lets face it, nine times out of ten thermostats only became an issue when yr old jalopy with a badly maintained cooling system boiled on a hot day. So what did you do? Pulled out the stat(s) because a) its more than likely stuck open/shut/somewhere in between, and, whatever, it was getting in the way of the coolant! A new thermostat which worked, and a cleaned out system/new rad core would have solved the problem. It was a time/money thing. The way I see it, your thread has dealt with two separate issues. 1) Is the V8 subject to a flow restriction when its thermostats (of whatever design) are open and 2) does it matter to the long term health of our engines if we don't fit thermostats at all. For 1), you certainly don't have a cooling problem with your motor with fully open NAPA 111's. If you can run up a steep hill in second gear in 90 degrees, with not much air going through your radiator, without boiling, your cooling system is working well! I suspect not all old Ford owners could say that... for 2) if you can be bothered, it would be great if you could do the reverse test...ie the Sherwen stats against your NAPA 111's, against no stats on a cold winter day in Utah, then we can see what works in those conditions....and even better with an oil temp gauge fitted, because the main problem with running too cool is that the oil takes a long time to get warm, and may not ever get up to correct temperature, which is just about the worst thing for an engine. Over to you...! Cheers, Tom.