Re: OK to remove thermostat?

"Paul Hovnanian P.E." <paulh@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:482B281D.82CE8AD7@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>J wrote:
>>
>> Will it harm anything if I remove the therrmostat for the duration of
the
>> summer?
>>
>> My goal is to make the engine run cooler to extend the engine life.
This is
>> in reference to a 1994 Chevrolet Corsica with a 6 cylinder engine with
>> 168,000 miles. The gasket is an o-ring that is part of the thermostat,
so I
>> will make my own gasket to fit around the thermostat housing to prevent
>> leakage. Thank you.
>
> Engine wear is higher as you depart from design operating temperature in
> either direction. If the engine is too cold, metal parts will shrink,
> clearances will change,


   We're only talking about a 15 degree difference in temp here, how much
will 
that affect an engine that is capable of  starting at below zero and
operating 
at over 200 degrees ?

   I would like to know how this clearance change occurs though. I would
think 
that all parts in the engine would shrink when it gets cold.  As an
example, 
when the pistons shrink from the cold I would also assume the cylinder
bore 
that houses the piston would also shrink the same amount. Or maybe when
the 
crankshaft shrinks from the cold the main bearing journals, whick surround
the 
crank, would also shrink the same amout. Now, I could be wrong, and if
that's 
the case maybe you could explain why the engine doesn't seize up when it
gets 
hot.



 wear will increase. And then there's the
> unburned gas that slips by the rings and dilutes the oil in the
> crankcase.
>
> -- 
> Paul Hovnanian paul@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Have gnu, will travel.