Hi, just fitted a new radiator to my scooby (2002 STI) and took the thermostat out but there seems to be contrasting views on this the car seems to be fine but i have heard that in winter its better to run with one to keep the temperature up. What is your opinion? Anyone else done this?

 

Why take it out ? unless you live in 35 degrees plus all yr round, dont see the point myself and id of thought it would mess up cold running as the water would be colder for longer and cuase the sensor to overfuel as it thinks its needed when it isnt


just my opinion tho

 

The old one was sticking, someone on here told me to take it out, i didn't just think oh that would be a good idea!

Whats best standard or zerosports?

 

i've got an bigger alloy rad and the guy who fit it for me recomended the Zerosports one (he wasnt selling em) result seems to be cooler running temps (from my oil temp gauge) no downside apart from the £70 hole in my wallet.

 

You should always run a thermostat regardless. The engine needs the stat to maintain a correct temp.
I have a 71 degrees stat if interested PM me.

 

Yep put a stat of some sort in. Running without will give mixed temps in various places over the engine. Can even cause hot spots which isnt good.

 

You need a stat to get upto working temperature. Failure to fit one as stated above means you are on choke all the time using excessive fuel & fowling your plugs not to mention excessive carbon build up.

 

+1, Also as mentioned above no stat will mean your engine takes an age to get up to temp if at all, 71 degree zerosports is the one to go for, you can get a 61 degree one from mishimoto but this is only an option if you are having it mapped on an ecu that will alow you to set the choke temps, std choke temp i think is 70 degrees (i could be wrong)

 

simple, stat must be fitted, there is no reason or supporting evidence not to.
Not sure who told you not to fit one but I would not be taking any more advice of them, not a good idea at all

 

I would not ever run a car without one. It helps regulate the water temp (along with the fans) and also and just as importantly it gets the car up to operating temperature quickly. If you have low water temps then likely the engine oils temp is low or slow to reach optimum.

The water temp is also monitored by the ecu and fuelling adjusted accordingly.

 

ok, thanks guys, i have only drove the car once without it so not the end of the world yet, i'm probs just going to stick a standard one back in.