Quote:
Originally Posted by PC/SR
I initially put a thermostat at the top of the radiator hose and as you fear, it was slow to or did not open. Moved it to the bottom of the hose, hold it in place with a hose clamp and it works fine. The stat opens gradually as the water heats up.
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Yes, getting the thermostat as close to the engine as possible really helps it open before the engine gets too hot. But the coolant is still stagnant in the block until the thermostat does open, which I don't think is good for the engine. (Modern engines have bypassed the thermostat like this since they were introduced in the mid- to late-30s.) .
I'm sure there are many dozens of guys that have driven thousands of miles with the thermostat near the block and with no bypass hose, and had no problem. They are lucky. I'll bet there are others that have experienced head gasket failure and never thought that it might be caused by that thermostat...
YMMV.
