Have a aq120b volvo penta 4 cylinder. Live on the gulf coast. Really gets hot down here in tyhe summertime.High 90,s. Can i run this engine without a thermostat. Will it make the engine run cooler or hotter? Any thoughts.
Keep the thermostat. If you have cooling problems then you need to fix it.
A properly working cooling system on those engines will work in 100? temps and 80? water temps.
Have a aq120b volvo penta 4 cylinder. Live on the gulf coast. Really gets hot down here in tyhe summertime.High 90,s. Can i run this engine without a thermostat. Will it make the engine run cooler or hotter? Any thoughts.
It's NOT a good idea to run any engine without a thermostat. Most engines (at least GM engines) cooling systems are specifically designed to flow with the restriction created by a thermostat. If you yank the stat, now you have no restriction, and the water pump's loss of restriction actually causes flow inconsistancies. Your engine will run hot, create steam pockets, then run cold, and so fourth. Many SBC racers will use a thermostat "restrictor disc" instead of a thermostat to allow the needed restriction, yet not have the possibility of a thermostat malfunctioning.
