Re: [A/S] cooling capacity

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jon,
 This is a common misconception, that "too much flow" will cause
overheating because "the water isn't in contact long enough to pull the
heat out". More flow always equals more cooling. If you don't believe
me, pinch down one of your radiator hoses to restrict the flow; the
water will be in the radiator longer, the outlet of the radiator will be
much cooler, but the engine will be a whole bunch hotter. Under some
rare conditions, removing a thermostat can cause overheating, but it's
because the water is cavitating in some areas and isn't actually in
contact with the block, so can't pick up the heat.

Also, it IS entirely possible to over-cool an engine. If the engine
isn't at its designed operating temperature, you get poorer fuel mileage
due to incomplete combustion and oil dilution due to the same thing.
Plus, if the engine oil is too cool, the water that's in it (a natural
byproduct of combustion that has leaked past the rings) won't be driven
off. This leads to sludge. Look at the inside of any engine that has
been used in only short-trip driving and you'll see exactly what I mean.

There are reasons that the manufacturer uses a certain setting on the
thermostat. In Terry's case, I'd run one with a 170 or 180 degree rating
to get the engine a bit warmer, but keep the large radiator. He's
working the engine far harder than the average conditions that Ford
designed for, so needs the cooling capacity. The only thing a "colder"
thermostat does for him is give him a head start on any potential
overheating situation; IE: start out 30 degrees colder and it'll take a
bit longer to reach "too hot". If the cooling system is inadaquet, that
condtion will be met, just a bit later than if he had started at 180
degrees.

I don't disagree with plenty of cooling on the transmission because it
doesn't get combustion byproducts in it.