Over heated Ford (Mercury) Engine on my F8

[cantankrs]

Hi Bruce,

That sounds like a disc of brass or something, with a hole drilled in it in place of the thermostat. I think I tried that with my engine mentioned above but wasn't happy with the results - non variable to suit changing conditions.

Also while I think of it I spose most people have heard of covering part or all of the radiator frontal area when very cold? You see it in photos, and colder clime people are probably familiar with it. I used to carry a piece of stiff cardboard I'd jam between radiator and grill on my old car when driving long distances on cold nights - so the engine would keep warm and importantly so I could get a bit of that thru the heater! It didn't completely blank off the whole width of the radiator just 2/3rd or so. And a working temp gauge is a useful guide in case you aren't cold enough.

Also some thermostats have a little jiggle device in a hole just nearer the edge and I presume it's to allow trapped air to release during cooling system filling, the jiggle may be to stop it getting blocked up. Some have a little notch pressed into the body such that the valve doesn't seal that tiny portion presumably for the same reason. I think older (or perhaps cheaper) thermostats had no such provision so I'd drill a 1/8" hole to one side. I'm interested in any instructive comments about this.

Regards

Alex
--
M3 Grant, Val, Ferrets, WM20, CMP's