38 replies to this topic

[trescoman]

Thermostat replacement from Courtenays drops the engine temp by 10 degs, is it worth it, does it do much and any help/advise appreciated Bob

[Gedi]

My engine runs at 85 degrees. I wouldn't want it running any cooler at normal operating temp.

[dkennedyVXT]

I was wondering about this also. Does it actually drop the temp or just trick the ECU into thinking the temp is lower?

[Jase_MK]

The cool running thermo mod for the Elise just brings the fan in earlier to cool down the radiator water doesn't it? So your fans comes in at 95 instead of 105 or whatever. It's more of an issue for them when HGF is only a sunny day away.

[garyk220]

The thermostat opens earlier, and stays open for longer, so the radiator will keep the coolant temp cooler. It will probably reduce the temperature from the heater too

[dkennedyVXT]

The thermostat opens earlier, and stays open for longer, so the radiator will keep the coolant temp cooler. It will probably reduce the temperature from the heater too

Worthwhile making this mod then? I seem to remember it was pretty cheap?!?!?

[ShinyAndy]

The running temps on the Vx are fine, you can cause plently of damage running it too cool as well. As has already been mentioned this is a worthwhile change to a K series which will HGF stuck at traffic lights on a sunny day

[garyk220]

Like Gedi, I wouldn't want the engine temperature to go much below 85 degrees. The thermostat is there to allow the engine to get up to temperature quickly. A cooler running one will mean the engine takes longer to get up to temperature I'd imagine. The VXT has a bigger radiator to improve the efficiency, and seems to keep temperatures pretty stable, even tracking in very hot weather. Can't see why it would be needed myself.

[trescoman]

Got this of Courtaneys site, so that's where the question first came from.....

Cool Running Thermostat As used on the VX Sprint.
Our cool running thermostat reduces the engine's normal running temp by 10 degrees protecting the engine and running it closer to it's optimum power temperature.
Thermostat £23.50 fitting £34.50

I suppose the question is; does it cause the engine to run nearer it's optimum power?? or what??

[ShinyAndy]

Marketing hype.. of course they're going to tell you it's better they're trying to get you to spend money afterall ! The Sprint car was for use in race conditions where you'd often be in hot and dirty air so exposing the water to the radiator all the time is a good idea. You'd find on the road that a thermostat that was almost always open would mean the thing never got upto "optimum" temperatures and forget trying to get warm using the heater. My car sits at about 86-90 all the time, lowering that by 10 degrees would result in a cold engine.

[clipping_point]

In a race engine cooler liquid temperature is used because you have greater temperature gradients. You can have a hot spot at the piston centre for instance, and bringing down the mean material temp will help the strength. But unless you use the engine for racing you do not need the product AFAIK!! The engine will be subjected to greater wear and will also prolly loose performance due to heat energy loss.

[trescoman]

Its amazing what you find out when you ask So I'll save me money then Lads

[mags993tt]

I'd be careful equating water temp directly to engine operating temp. Water temp range is about 15degc but for example your turbo might be operating at cherry red exhaust temperatures on track and hundreds of degrees cooler on the road. The idea that the thermostat opening earlier will damage your engine is really not credible given that VX's sold in hotter countries (that means 10 to 15degrees higher ambient temp - a lot to you and me but nothing to the operating range of an engine) have the cooler running thermostat as standard. Let's face it - the difference between a hot and a cold day is bigger and the difference in water temp between sitting in traffic and driving down the motorway is also bigger.

[chris]

I have installed one on my VXT one year ago at the occasion of ECU upgrading. Runing temp of the engine is now 77 to 80 °C with 0-30W oil. I have not encoutered any pb.

[trescoman]

I have installed one on my VXT one year ago at the occasion of ECU upgrading.
Runing temp of the engine is now 77 to 80 °C with 0-30W oil.

I have not encoutered any pb.

But have you gained anything, what does it do you your car, consumption, performance, etc..........Its not the money, its whats the benefit

BTW Mines a T as well


Bob

[chris]

My VXT is upgraded (Exhaust system, Intercooler, ECU) The purpose of this modification is not to increase car performance, but to improve reliability in connection with above modifications.

[clipping_point]

The only benefit you get is a little warmer weather, since you help heat the ambient air

[chris]

Not even that, head load evcuated by cooling water circuit is the same. Only internal temp of engine in particular head are decreased.

[B5M_VX]

I have one in the garage waiting to be fitted. But I cant be bothered! The theory iirc after speaking to Jon is that a race engine runs at around 75 degrees for it to produce it maximum power, this is to cold for a road car. However the thermostat in this case opens sooner to run the engine cooler to increase performance. It may not give massive bhp increase if any but if does give an extra margin over normal running tempretures for those who are concerned about the tempreture your car runs at which I have seen on here pop up again and again. I will keep you posted when I get mine fitted!

[Gedi]

If the engine ran more efficiently at 70 degs instead of 85, don't you think vauxhall would have set it like that? These engines have gone under major development involving amongst other things, wear and performance at different running temps. If vauxhall tell us that 85ish is the best then I'll go with them. Its not just some figure they've come up with from the NA because that runs at higher temps. You might even invalidate your engine warranty if something goes while its on there. Unless you know hand on heart that running at lower temps won't damage your engine, I'd stick to what the experts tell us.