Thread: removing thermostat

Is it beneficial to just remove the thermostat in a drag car? I know on the old small block chevy's etc. it doesn't really matter. At least this way you never have to worry about it getting stuck right?

edit ....

^^^^ WTF What???

The mechanical water pump doesnt run that fast at lower rpms that it will prevent the water from cooling down completely.

Youre only drawback will be longer time to get up to operating temps. Unless youre living at 6K RPMs for long periods of time. On a drag car it doesnt matter since its only short 1/4 mile runs.

what if an electric pump was installed? Definitely no need for the thermostat then right? say 20gpm?

I would think you should be fine with it removed, all thats going to happen is initial warm up of the engine will take longer as vex said, after that point the entire operation of the motor will reflect the exact process of the initial warm up. The motor will take longer to heat up the coolant since it is constantly flowing as opposed to being temporarily restricted by the closing of the t-stat.

Even if you install the electric water pump, if you remove the t-stat same process will occur. Constant flow of coolant through unrestricted path to radiator will keep the temp much cooler than with t-stat restriction.

I removed my t-stat in my turbo car and there aren't any problems. The only drawback is that it takes a bit longer for the engine to warm up, but the car stays a lot cooler due to the constant flow instead of a t-stat restricted flow. Now I won't have to worry about high temps or a faulty t-stat. I'll not be driving this car in the winter anyhow.

Yea, I was goin to add that fact in there lol. Living in ohio i would never remove my t-stat unless i was running track only always. Same goes for anywhere else that has very strange temperature swings. My VE runs really cool as is with the thermostat.

i guess i mis read the question but hey what do i know i only already done this and witness the negative effects

That restriction is on purpose to create a high pressure zone inside the head to prevent the coolant from boiling in the localized heat.

The thermostats job is to regulate coolant temp and to get coolant to operating temp faster for heating purposes.

Just to clarify a little more, the t-stat will open at a set temp, lets say 160 degrees. When the coolant temp reaches that temp the t-stat opens up and the cooling system is running virtually how it would with if a t-stat wasn't there. Once it gets below it will close, keeping the coolant temp above 160.

Your statement was saying that a without a thermostat the system will eventually overheat, was false. It is impossible to over heat a car just by removing the t-stat. There must have been some other cooling system issues with the car you saw it happen on.