Drilling thermostats?
Discussion
I believe my 500E Mercedes (Same engine as SL500 etc etc) has a thermostat which closes when the temperature reaches the required temp, reverse flow or something?
Now as the engine is so well packed into the engine bay cooling systems can prove troublesome. I did at one time want a custom radiator made but after seeing some posts on here and similar websites I don't think this is the right action to take.
So will drilling a thermostat of this type work in the same way as a regular type? I've got it all arse about face in my head and for some reason am struggling to get a clear picture if it will or not.
I understand that this will give me slower warm up times (It's very very fast as it is anyway) but i'm hoping the slightly better flow, while still controled (Unlike when the stat is removed completely) will help lower temps at lower speeds.
Dave!
Now as the engine is so well packed into the engine bay cooling systems can prove troublesome. I did at one time want a custom radiator made but after seeing some posts on here and similar websites I don't think this is the right action to take.
So will drilling a thermostat of this type work in the same way as a regular type? I've got it all arse about face in my head and for some reason am struggling to get a clear picture if it will or not.
I understand that this will give me slower warm up times (It's very very fast as it is anyway) but i'm hoping the slightly better flow, while still controled (Unlike when the stat is removed completely) will help lower temps at lower speeds.
Dave!
Is that a picture of your stat? It would appear to be closed (i.e. just like a conventional stat).
The usual reasons for drilling holes in stats are to improve bleeding, or to soften the response when the stat initially cracks open to reduce thermal transients. Do you have any reason to think that you need either of these changes?
The usual reasons for drilling holes in stats are to improve bleeding, or to soften the response when the stat initially cracks open to reduce thermal transients. Do you have any reason to think that you need either of these changes?
Edited by GreenV8S on Tuesday 20th May 13:33
It is supposedly one of the stat in my engine, I've yet to drain the cooling system or make any mods to mine though.
Bleeding and warm up are fine, this was mentioned on an american car site and is supposed to give cooler running temps when driving around town, it currently will sit at around 100°C which is what it was designed to do but if I could keep the temp down a little it would be good.
I was hoping for a concise yes, but if there is doubt to its effectiveness then i'll leave it as is, it's certainly not an engine I want to overheat.
Dave!
Bleeding and warm up are fine, this was mentioned on an american car site and is supposed to give cooler running temps when driving around town, it currently will sit at around 100°C which is what it was designed to do but if I could keep the temp down a little it would be good.
I was hoping for a concise yes, but if there is doubt to its effectiveness then i'll leave it as is, it's certainly not an engine I want to overheat.
Dave!
I thought drilling stats was a false economy, as it takes lonbger for your car t get up to temperature. I've always reduced temps by running stats that open at a lower temp and using quality coolant and water wetter. I successfully reduced my temps by about 12 deg C recently using these methods.
There is a group buy on the 500E.com website but i'm not entirely sure that it would be much better than a standard one as it's a very nicely made rad anyway.
Like you say though it's now 17 years old and could be full of crud inside for all I know, I did a coolant change 2 years ago and backflushed it but hardly anything came out.
It is definitely a Mafia car, Toad of Toad hall haha, it'll never be sold! Nice to know more people appreciate it.
Dave!
Like you say though it's now 17 years old and could be full of crud inside for all I know, I did a coolant change 2 years ago and backflushed it but hardly anything came out.
It is definitely a Mafia car, Toad of Toad hall haha, it'll never be sold! Nice to know more people appreciate it.
Dave!
Whoever has drilled the stat in the pic has made a right balls up of it. The smaller disc should NOT be drilled - when fully open, this is needed to block off the bypass hole - i.e. STOP the coolant just circulating around the engine without passing through the radiator. With the holes in the smaller disc, a portion of water will now bypass the radiator when the thermostat is fully open, essentially reducing the cooling performance.
A few holes in the larger disc CAN increase the amount of flow going through the radiator, although it's a very small improvement. Making sure the cooling system is performaing as it should would serve you much better (although not as cheap!) - i.e. water pump - are all blades of the impeller intact? Radiator not partially blocked etc etc.
A few holes in the larger disc CAN increase the amount of flow going through the radiator, although it's a very small improvement. Making sure the cooling system is performaing as it should would serve you much better (although not as cheap!) - i.e. water pump - are all blades of the impeller intact? Radiator not partially blocked etc etc.
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