Thermostat
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 2
From: veritas caput
Originally Posted by Reds2kracer,Jan 27 2005, 10:17 PM
So what r u saying Chiung, you think I should go ahead and install my Spoon thermostat?
Also, disregard my advice to consider the Hondata gasket, now that you have updated your profile location, I don't feel that the gasket, or any cooling mods would outweigh any potential or alleged risks of running cooler than OEM. Here in Fla, the cooling mods made a marked improvement in drivability.
If you want to go fast, and keep the engine under control, as you stated, then keep her stock and invest in some HPDE events. The car is plenty fast, usually it's the driver that needs the mods.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I agree 
... Minnesota gets hot enough without going overboard, I'll probably wait on the Spoon thermostat until I need a change or so, I know that heat is one of the number 1 reason that can robb a engine of it's hp so that's why I asked. Anyhow, thanks for all the support.
... Minnesota gets hot enough without going overboard, I'll probably wait on the Spoon thermostat until I need a change or so, I know that heat is one of the number 1 reason that can robb a engine of it's hp so that's why I asked. Anyhow, thanks for all the support.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,809
Likes: 15
From: Sydney
It's not a question of whether or not it runs fine, it's a question of why does it open early? It doesn't make the cooling system any more efficient.
All it does do is hold the temperature too low for longer. This can only be a bad thing.
All it does do is hold the temperature too low for longer. This can only be a bad thing.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Colleyville, Tx
I do not have one on my S, but, on my 98 Civic with a JDM ITR swap, I installed it. But I was also seeing higher than 98 degree engine temps under normal driving conditions. Especially after the addition of some performance parts that sometimes tend to raise your engine temps a few degrees.
Also, being that I live in Texas, and it gets hot as hell here in the Summer, it was nice to keep my engine temps below 100, even while beating on the car out on the highways.
To answer the opening question, yes, it just opens sooner, but remember, a thermostat does not just go from closed to open, it's a gradual change. Once my ITR motor saw 90 degrees, it didn't take any longer to get to 98-100 even with the spoon thermostat installed. As a matter of fact, I really don't think my car warmed up any slower at all, but while driving I would see a decrease in engine temps, espeically in the winter time. Which made my N/A motor run much stronger, it loves the cold weather and low engine temps, it pulls so much harder.
Also, to take full advantage of it, you really need the thermoswitch that also turns on the radiator fan at a lower temp. If you research the product, they are recommended to be installed together, not sperate.
As for adverse effects and decreasing engine life... um, I don't think so. Water pump is always moving, whether it's got a little water it's moving, or a lot. So there really isn't going to be all that much additional wear.
The theory comes from the old domestic design, or mod, where when the engines started to run hot, they removed the thermostat and just installed different size washers in it's place until they achieved a constant engine temp and coolant flow they were happy with. People do it all the time. You shouldn't see a shorter engine life just because your thermostat opens earlier, that's ludicrous IMO.
My $0.02 and then some probably.
Also, being that I live in Texas, and it gets hot as hell here in the Summer, it was nice to keep my engine temps below 100, even while beating on the car out on the highways.
To answer the opening question, yes, it just opens sooner, but remember, a thermostat does not just go from closed to open, it's a gradual change. Once my ITR motor saw 90 degrees, it didn't take any longer to get to 98-100 even with the spoon thermostat installed. As a matter of fact, I really don't think my car warmed up any slower at all, but while driving I would see a decrease in engine temps, espeically in the winter time. Which made my N/A motor run much stronger, it loves the cold weather and low engine temps, it pulls so much harder.
Also, to take full advantage of it, you really need the thermoswitch that also turns on the radiator fan at a lower temp. If you research the product, they are recommended to be installed together, not sperate.
As for adverse effects and decreasing engine life... um, I don't think so. Water pump is always moving, whether it's got a little water it's moving, or a lot. So there really isn't going to be all that much additional wear.
The theory comes from the old domestic design, or mod, where when the engines started to run hot, they removed the thermostat and just installed different size washers in it's place until they achieved a constant engine temp and coolant flow they were happy with. People do it all the time. You shouldn't see a shorter engine life just because your thermostat opens earlier, that's ludicrous IMO.
My $0.02 and then some probably.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 0
From: The Beach, CA
[quote name='s2kgeek9' date='Jan 29 2005, 10:21 AM'] As for adverse effects and decreasing engine life... um, I don't think so. Water pump is always moving, whether it's got a little water it's moving, or a lot. So there really isn't going to be all that much additional wear.
The theory comes from the old domestic design, or mod, where when the engines started to run hot, they removed the thermostat and just installed different size washers in it's place until they achieved a constant engine temp and coolant flow they were happy with. People do it all the time. You shouldn't see a shorter engine life just because your thermostat opens earlier, that's ludicrous IMO.
My $0.02 and then some probably.
The theory comes from the old domestic design, or mod, where when the engines started to run hot, they removed the thermostat and just installed different size washers in it's place until they achieved a constant engine temp and coolant flow they were happy with. People do it all the time. You shouldn't see a shorter engine life just because your thermostat opens earlier, that's ludicrous IMO.
My $0.02 and then some probably.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
Originally Posted by kane.s2k' date='Jan 29 2005, 10:49 AM
Your $0.02 are wrong.
First of all, I dont see why the water pump is the concern. This is about engine wear and not coolant flow. That's all fine and dandy for old domestic cars but do you know the differences in clearances between parts in our engines and those? Everything is almost 10 times smaller of a gap than on the old american cars!
Other than heavily F/I cars with larger clearances than those of stock motors or heavy racing in the middle east deserts your motor will probably be running too cold. The only reason for these thermostats (because our OEM one suits almost everyone and works fine) is because under extremely heavy conditions the thermostat doesn't open fast enough/early enough and the temp goes up by a couple degrees more than it should.
The spoon one IMO is too cold even for a race motor with different specs.
First of all, I dont see why the water pump is the concern. This is about engine wear and not coolant flow. That's all fine and dandy for old domestic cars but do you know the differences in clearances between parts in our engines and those? Everything is almost 10 times smaller of a gap than on the old american cars!
Other than heavily F/I cars with larger clearances than those of stock motors or heavy racing in the middle east deserts your motor will probably be running too cold. The only reason for these thermostats (because our OEM one suits almost everyone and works fine) is because under extremely heavy conditions the thermostat doesn't open fast enough/early enough and the temp goes up by a couple degrees more than it should.
The spoon one IMO is too cold even for a race motor with different specs.