Re: Engine Thermostats - Old vs. New

Posted by TxGoat On 2023/10/7 9:02:18

The radiator's ability to get rid of heat is related to how much hotter it is than the air that is passing through it, and how much air is passing through it.

The speed at which coolant moves through the radiator in a recirculating system affects how much heat it can dissipate under a given set of conditions.

A sluggish flow of coolant will result in a radiator core that is much cooler near the outlet than it is at the inlet. This will reduce cooling effectiveness of the radiator. The radiator has to be able to dissipate heat at or above whatever rate the engine is adding heat to the coolant. A hotter radiator will dissipate more heat than a cooler one. A fairly brisk coolant flow through both the radiator and the water jackets is desirable. Both the radiator and the water pump have capacity in excess of the engine's needs under ALL operating conditions, assuming they are in good condition. Less time in the radiator means more trips through the radiator at a higher temperature, thus more heat dissipation, unless flow is reduced by the thermostat.