Sound like a thermostat issue?

[mdelorie]

Car does this: Starts up, runs fine. But watch the temperature guage rise and the overheat light will just barely start to flicker on, then the guage will start decreasing to normal.

 

Is there such a thing as a "sticky" thermostat? am I way off in left field thinking it's a thermostat?

[KrazyCutlass1995]

yep , it could get stuck and not release .... my advise ... take it out =) my 95 cutty runs without one and runs just fine

[mdelorie]

Can you do that?

[SmokesGTP]

I've never heard of anyone doing that but I don't see as it can hurt anything. Although if that was the case everyone would be doing it.

[Redfox340]

Can you do that?

 

Yes, you can. Since it's a mechanical system, it can be removed and left open so that the coolant is constantly circulating. There's two sides:

 

Pros:

* cars runs cooler

* can get more power from more heater transfer

* less problems with bleeding coolant system

 

Cons:

* car (in colder climate) takes longer to have the engine warm up

* won't have as hot of a heater in the cabin of vehicle

* since running open system, you may run a richer air / fuel mixture due to an Open Loop

 

- RedFox340

[mdelorie]

Well, for the 14 or whatever dollars it's going to cost me to replace it, I think I'll do that. There's no gasket in there for that, is there?

[Redfox340]

Well, for the 14 or whatever dollars it's going to cost me to replace it, I think I'll do that. There's no gasket in there for that, is there?

 

Usually the gasket (or o-ring) comes with the thermoatat already installed on it. It's a piece of cake install; should have no problems.

 

- RedFox340

[chronic139]

if you run without a t-stat, your gonna use a lot more gas from the engine being so cold. waste of money.

[Tim]

The catalytic converter must be able to get hot to be effective. Running an engine without a thermostat will not allow it to reach proper operating temperature and will cause the cat to fail along with the other pros and cons mentioned.

Tim