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MG MGB Technical - Thermostat or blanking sleeve

While I am working on the cooling system, Will I be better off to use a thermostat or just have a blanking sleeve in the car. I never drive the car when the temperature is below 55 degrees F and most often it is 90+.
Jimmy Chew

Thermostat AND blanking sleeve -- use them both:

http://www.cibolas7.net/12299.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*
Rob Edwards

Rob thanks for the info. I had read this and it sound like a good idea.
I will get a sleeve and a new 160 thermostat.
Jimmy Chew

I'd suggest 195º thermostat. You want the engine to come up to temp quickly, and (within reason) the hotter you run it, the more power & efficiency you'll get. Have a look at:
http://mgcarz.com/thermostats.html

Cheers!
Rob Edwards

Rob, good to see you around. I know what you are saying as far as engine temp and efficiency is concernec, but if I use a 180 t-stat in the warm weather, I get way to much pinging (early 3-main,high compression) , even with the timing backed way down.With a 160, no pinging problems. I have always wondered if 180 degrees or higher t-stats have contributed to the cylinder head cracking problems these engines have. The engine design is ancient, and looking at MGA specs it seemed that 160 was standard. As emissions tighted, I know that they found a higher engine temp helped, but was the engine really designed for this,and exacerbated the cracking issues. I am not trying to hijak this thread or start debate, just wondering.
Emmanuel Kafant

Hi Emmanuel! I'm still around here. I quit hanging around the MGE because the political BS got to be too much....

In general, older engines (not just MGs) were usually specified with cooler thermostats. Keep in mind that early oils would coke at much lower temperatures than modern oils, and that antifreeze used to be made with methanol which would boil off at a relatively low temperature. I believe it was the improvements to oil and the switch to glycol antifreeze that allowed higher-rated thermostats to become practical.

If you have a pinging issue with higher engine temps, then you have no choice but to try to keep the operating temp lower. But folks who don't have such high compression engines shouldn't have such a limitation. I'm running about 9.2:1 and a 195ºF with no problems. (And although I'm sure you already know this, folks should be aware that the thermostat CANNOT set the maximum operating temperature, only the minimum. See my essay linked above for details).

As for the cracking issue, who knows? I would be very surprised if 20 or 30 degrees would make much difference. Without a controlled study it would be impossible to know....

Cheers!
Rob Edwards

This thread was discussed between 06/04/2009 and 08/04/2009

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