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| Re: removing front mount for cooling issues.... |
Subject: Re: removing front mount for cooling issues....
by jmac on 2009/1/15 6:08:25
A big reason to keep the thermostat in there is that it preloads the water pump and helps prevent any cavitation or aeration. Secondly, it increases the water pressure (at higher rpm, when the pump is moving) in the block/head since the thermostat acts as a restriction. This prevents steam pocket formation and also improves the heat transfer properties of the coolant.
This little tid bit of info might shed some light on why there's been a few traumatic stories (admittedly none I'm aware of on this forum) of peoplle fitting electric water pump conversions (some of which mandate the removal of the thermostat - ostensibly because they use pump speed to regulate temp, but far more likely because their pumps just can't push any water against a restriction and develop this preload/pressure in the block/head.
It's pretty easy to see this effect in practice, with the motor warmed up and the thermostat being known to be open, if you lift the revs to about 3500 you'll see the water level drop in the radiator, since the water in the block is under higher pressure/slightly more dense (water of course isn't exactly compressible, but there are trace amounts of free O2 in there that are, among other things.
Another really odd thing - if you manipulate the surface tension of water you can improve the above effects. You could get the 'water wetter' or other expensive stuff, or just use a couple of drops (and I seriously mean just a couple of drops) of liquid soap in there.
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Aside from these 'internal' shenanigans, I'd suggest a good long look at the fan shrouding. Air will take the easiest course possible, and without enough shrouding to force the air to go through the core and past a 'pulling' fan, you'll just get it pulling air from practically everywhere else. I've seen factory installs where a fan shroud was damaged in a crash, and people chased their tails with bigger rads with more rows, colder thermostats, pulling the head and running 2 stacked head gaskets - none of which did stuff all, and then a replacement shroud from a wrecker and it was 'all good' once again. If your thermo fans don't have one, or one that is tightly sealed around the core, look there first imho.
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