HELP: THERMOSTAT, Should I have it in Surf Engine ?

[mj1226]

Hi All

Do I really need to have an Engine Thermostat for my surf 2LTE 2.4L or is it better not being there or Do I really need it?

I have my surf in the asia pacific so it's a hot environment but humid.


heap of thanks,

mj

[dieselboy]

Yes, a thermostat regulates engine temperature. It opens to let water pass when it's hot and closes when it's cold. You may find that when travelling along a road without a thermostat that the engine radiator cools the engine down to below normal. Large, frequent fluctiations in temerature are not always good either!

Fit a thermostat, make sure your water is clean and looked after so that the thermostat does not get jammed.

[tweak'e]

you MUST have the thermostat in.
when the engine heats up the thermostat shuts off the bypass. if you don't have a thermostat the bypass stays open and a lot of the water bypasses the radiator and goes back in uncooled.

get a 88c highflow thermostat and a decent radiator.

[mj1226]

Amazing! Thank you so so much for your inputs! Great thoughts and makes so much sense especially the idea of the radiator needing time to cool the water before it goes back to the engine via the thermostat.
Hence the use of the "coolant", so it acts like an accelerator of that process, right?
I will be off to get my baby that engine thermostat.

so many mechanics and people around here remove and discard the thermostat because they argue that the thermostat is not useful in hot climate territories, it's only useful in cold territories like japan, korea, uk, usa etc etc...

but somehow deep inside me knows that it is needed somehow never the less.

thank you dieselboy and tweak'e for your knowledge!
I really am grateful!

[mj1226]

Does anyone know the part number or item number of the Engine Thermostat for my Surf LN130 SSR-X 2LTE 2.4L, Turbo Diesel, Automatic Trans/Gearbox?

[KERRSURF]

The best thing you can do for your truck is to adopt a good servicing habit and run it as the makers intended. Proper yearly coolant flush and new coolant plus regular inspection and maintenance go a long way to avoiding failures.
Components can and do fail but it's pretty easy and cheap to keep on top of all the day to day stuff.

[NiftyNev]

90916-03099 It's an 88/100 deg C. Make sure you get the seal part number 16341-35010 and do not use a gasket between the two housing parts. The rubber seal for thermostat is the gasket.

Nev

[dieselboy]

This is to all really as I don't know - what is good practice to change the coolant, after a set period of time or after the coolant looks dirty and discoloured from its normal clean red colour?

[tweak'e]

Amazing! Thank you so so much for your inputs! Great thoughts and makes so much sense especially the idea of the radiator needing time to cool the water before it goes back to the engine via the thermostat.

it doesn't go back in via the thermostat in the L series engines. it comes OUT of the engine via the thermostat.
the thermostat is in the engines water outlet at the top of the engine.

[tweak'e]

This is to all really as I don't know - what is good practice to change the coolant, after a set period of time or after the coolant looks dirty and discolored from its normal clean red colour?

there is a proper test for engine coolant but its probably easier/better to change coolant at a set period of time.

[Ambobeer]

Slight tangent to original post but I think it's relevant.

I used to help mechanic for a stock car driver and went with him one day when he had his engine dyno'd. Tuning specialist asked him what thermostat he had in and he announced that he didn't run one as it quickly got up to temperature and he didn't want it to over heat so didn't bother.

First thing the tuner did was bring down his screw driver handle sharply across my mates knuckles. He then calmly switched off the engine and fitted one. He then explained that running without a 'stat was fine but you must run a 'retarder plate' to inhibit the water flow. Failure to do this, he said, often leads to water rushing through the front of the engine and not allowing the rear pots to receive any cooling.

I suppose it makes sense in this case too.

[mj1226]

it doesn't go back in via the thermostat in the L series engines. it comes OUT of the engine via the thermostat.
the thermostat is in the engines water outlet at the top of the engine.

O yes yes that. that was what I mean. Sorry that my statement came out to be the opposite of the process. lol to me.
thanks for reiterating tweak'e and correcting the thought.

water in engine >> heated water >>thermostat>>T opens >>water pushed in to radiator>>then T closes up>>radiator doing its job>>cooling>>cooled water>>heading to the engine.

viola... i guess i understand it right.. maybe? yes?

[mj1226]

The best thing you can do for your truck is to adopt a good servicing habit and run it as the makers intended. Proper yearly coolant flush and new coolant plus regular inspection and maintenance go a long way to avoiding failures.
Components can and do fail but it's pretty easy and cheap to keep on top of all the day to day stuff.

duly noted! this is real sound advise!

[mj1226]

90916-03099 It's an 88/100 deg C. Make sure you get the seal part number 16341-35010 and do not use a gasket between the two housing parts. The rubber seal for thermostat is the gasket.

Nev

this is so helpful thank you a whole bunch my friend! thanks thanks!
Yes of course, won't use gasket paste. I'll be sure to use the O-ring/Rubber seal.. guess it comes with the thermostat when purchased?

[mj1226]

This is to all really as I don't know - what is good practice to change the coolant, after a set period of time or after the coolant looks dirty and discoloured from its normal clean red colour?

That's is a great question dieselboy! I too don't know the duration of a coolant and when it needs to be replaced. I would like to know same as you.

Also would like to know, What is the lifespan of the coolant+water that we keep in our Surfs until we flush them out and replace it?
**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**
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This is for everyone, that might need to know this.....
Use DISTILLED water ONLY! Use DISTILLED water ONLY!

OTHER waters or TAP water or MINERAL water causes mineral build-up like that sand-like material, guess its calcium maybe. And those types of waters TRIGGER RUSTING in the water chambers, metal tubes and radiator also.
Use DISTILLED water ONLY! Use DISTILLED water ONLY!