Has anyone ever drilled a hole in a thermostat to help with temperatures?

The reason I ask is my temperature on my commander sits at 91 - 92 C when driving, upto 94 when sat in traffic. If I have a blast it will drop around to about 87 but climbs back up again to about the 91 - 92.

When my car is at that temperature, obviously the fans are going. I have driven without the thermostat and temperatures drop right down and stays down (less than 70), this would be okay for summer but not to good for winter. (or fuel economy!)
It is a new thermostat and it opens more than the old one so I know thats not faulty (checked with boiling water)

So my idea is, if I drill a small hole in the stat (or open out the small one thats already in it) will this reduce the temperatures?
I know in theory it should, but has anyone tried it and what were the results?

 

or is the water pump driven by the timing belt or alternator belt? or is it mechanically driven?

 

what would you say is your 'normal' operating temp jay?

i had to replace my thermo a while ago, plus ive driven without the thermo.

swift c

 

my "normal" at the mo is 91 - 92 but I think this is to high and have been told it should be around 87 ish.
changed the stat but still the same. Dont really want to drive without the stat as the engine runs to cool then so economy changes a fair bit (and the heaters dont get very hot - ok for summer but not winter)

 

Well I've just replaced my thermo (got a brand new one from subaru) and initally instead of the temp going to normal (half way on my gauge) it went just over (not quite all the way to overheat) a few times. I think i had an air lock (which i got rid of) after that it was fine.

I'd try that route.

hope this helps

swift c

 

nah, i definately dont have an airlock wish it was that.

Out of curiosty did you have a gasket for the thermostat housing or did you use instant gasket?

What i am wondering is, occasionally my alternator belt is slipping a bit, so wondering if this drives the water pump as that could be slipping as well, which means my coolant wont be getting circulated as efficiently.

 

bttt

 

your water pump is driven by the timing belt, well it is on the classics anyway.

i think your temp is about right, i rember some one saying something about temps and iirc they said that the fans come on around 95degrees so anything below this would be about right i think.

im no wizz with mechanics but seeing as you havent had much feedback just thought i'd try and give you something.

good luck,
GAZ

 

the cambelt drives the waterpump it sounds like you have a partblocked water way in the engine or the rad have you tried to flush out the rad/engine

chris

 

flushed the radiator but not the engine. Whats the best way of flushing the engine.

 

you could drill the thermostate Jay but there must be a problem somewhere for the temp to be higher.. although it is possible the sensor is faulty..

Best way to flush I would imagine is to remove the thermostat and then use a hose in the header tank to turbo pipe or it might push straight onto the turbo..

iirc your header tank has a small leak around the seal between top and bottom and might be worth replacing.

Simon

 

already replaced the header tank as I broke it over the christmas period!!

Where is the water sensor located?
Also can I adjust the temps that the fans kick in on the commander or is that set?

 

sensor is in the cross pipe.. under the inlet manifold..
there is two one for the gauge on the dash and the other ecu uses.
The dash one has a spade connector the other a plug.

You cannot alter the fan temp start on the PFC.

Simon

 

sounds like access will be a pain then, looks like more scraped knuckles over the weekend then.
Out of curiousty, is there a gasked available for the thermostat housing or is it just a case of bolt up as the stat has a rubber seal? I did use some instant gasket though anyway just to make sure

 

>>Self made Gasket with the standard rubber ring on the thermostat itself.

Not sure there jay, u need to speak with someone who knows for sure.

Oh just for the record be careful when tightening the bolts that hold the thermostat...because i over tightened one of the little bast*rds and it SNAPPED! in half. YEAP! snapped clean off I could have cried in fact i think i did!. Luckily there was a bit left from the bolt in the block. Had to take the radiator out the lot!!!! to get to it. NIGHTMARE!!! so be careful mate. Its not nice. In fact I think im going to **** my pants just thinking about it!!!!!! Arrrrgghhhhhhh!!!!!