|
Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
#354622
06/22/09 12:16 PM
06/22/09 12:16 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,907
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,907
Athens, Greece
|
So I had a post in here like a week ago or so about my vapor lock, traced it back to my thermostat as the root cause of the trouble. I had installed it on the motor fresh at the rebuild, 160 degree. I figure I paid $15 for a HiPo thermostat, it should perform, I got about 8000 miles out of the first one (the one I removed a week ago) it started opening at 185 instead of the advertised 160. So I pop in a spare Mr. Gasket 160* that I had and I had gone for a drive....its evening, about 65 degrees, and the temp starts climbing to 220 (never had that happen before) I got her home as quick as I could and I hit 240 pulling into the driveway....I shut her off and put cooling fans on the front of the car and she pegged to 280/290 and I could hear the coolant boiling inside the block, I am ever so happy the freeze plugs didnt blow. I released the pressure from the cap and she came down to 220 agaion and then I just left her alone for a week. I blamed an air pocket in the coolant passageways.
I pop out the thermostat today to verify that its working. Mind you this is a 160* and I had a thermocouple reading 225 and the thermostat was still sealed shut. Just because its new doesnt mean its going to work. I already know this from other parts but come on....its a 30+ yr old design, cant I get 10k miles out of a part like this at least?
I am going back to the cheapo $2 Stant's and drilling the 1/8" holes in the body like I used to with the slant that had one thermostat in her for 45k miles..
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: Pyper70]
#354629
06/22/09 03:03 PM
06/22/09 03:03 PM
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
cheapo Stant? Stant used to be a very good brand
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: Pyper70]
#354630
06/22/09 03:24 PM
06/22/09 03:24 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,949
Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,949
Rio Linda, CA
|
The sticking closed thing could happen with any brand thermostat, mass production makes it a crap shoot. AFAIK, all of the high-flow thermostats are made by Robertshaw and repackaged by the various vendors.
There are cases where the high-flow thermostat makes the engine run hotter even when the thermostat is working perfectly, some systems simply can't use the higher flow.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#354631
06/22/09 03:41 PM
06/22/09 03:41 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,884
Michigan
MNobody
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,884
Michigan
|
Quote:
If you hit 240 I think you are going to find more problems. 
240 should'nt hurt anything but hitting 280/290 might.
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: Pyper70]
#354633
06/22/09 08:15 PM
06/22/09 08:15 PM
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
In case you haven't checked, make sure your lower rad hose isn't collapsing shut on acceleration. It can drive you insane since it usually won't show any sign while at idle. There's usually a large coiled spring in the hose to prevent this but some auto suppliers magically loose parts from time to time during the trip between the manufacturer and the store shelf. Just my 
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: 63stabamatic]
#354635
06/23/09 07:09 AM
06/23/09 07:09 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
|
I had a mr gasket 180* in my big block, worked great for 2500 miles.
then the water temps started hovering around 190 and in the city would creep up to 210-215 and really made me nervous!
I discovered my heater core was leaking so I simply bypassed it since it's a warm weather vehicle now anyway.
then started thinking about it...leaking coolant out would typically run cooler until the coolant got too low and would THEN overheat.
changed the thermostat too, and now it's back to maintaining 185-190 (it was a 185 stat)
**Photobucket sucks**
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: bee1971]
#354638
07/17/09 01:23 PM
07/17/09 01:23 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
|
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
|
Have them in 3 motors.No problems at all.Mine has been in for 10 years.Untouched 65 rad and still runs at 180 or less.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: therocks]
#354639
07/17/09 02:56 PM
07/17/09 02:56 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,715
closer to Canadian beer!
torkrules
I'm neurotic
|
I'm neurotic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,715
closer to Canadian beer!
|
Quote:
Have them in 3 motors.No problems at all.Mine has been in for 10 years.Untouched 65 rad and still runs at 180 or less.Rocky
Yes, but the newer ones are made by the CH INA company.
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: torkrules]
#354640
07/17/09 03:27 PM
07/17/09 03:27 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
|
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
|
Pretty much all stats are made by Stant or Shaw.Ive bought a ton and they all were made bo one or the other.At the shop we used Stants in almost everything.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: RodStRace]
#354643
07/17/09 07:22 PM
07/17/09 07:22 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 583
San Antonio, TX
CurYellowBird
mopar
|
mopar
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 583
San Antonio, TX
|
I run a 160* in my 80' malibu running a 350, mild cam, daily driver. It worked great for about 10k miles and then in town it would get around 180-190 and 210-220 on the highway. I'm considering just chucking the thing and drilling holes in a factory replacement. Other guys suggest to just run without a thermostat. Is this dangerous or is it pheesable?
Project War Bird:
1971 Plymouth Roadrunner
383 4 speed with air conditioning
GY3 Curious yellow
All original
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: CurYellowBird]
#354644
07/17/09 08:39 PM
07/17/09 08:39 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,907
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,907
Athens, Greece
|
Well since I first posted this I have replaced the Mr. Gasket stat with a 160*F Napa Special SuperStat. I bench tested all three and they begin opening at 165*F to 167*F. Eh...better than the Mr. G.....I also went ahead and drilled three 1/8" holes around the flange and popped it in, ran the motor, pulled the air bubbles out and finished off the mission. I also added in a 10" SPAL Pusher fan, and added a carb spacer to help reduce the heat from the engine. Havent gotten a chance to drive her yet as its still 95*F here and I dont wanna put her into that kinda stress. Maybe an evening stroll down the main blvd. in August.
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#354646
07/17/09 09:36 PM
07/17/09 09:36 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
Quote:
I can't figure out why you all are having trouble with air pockets. 
I have never drilled a stat, I have never had issues with air pockets. Not in an old car at least, had a few newer ones that had to have air released. But those have closed cooling systems.
|
|
|
Re: Never buy a Mr Gasket thermostat...Rant
[Re: Challenger 1]
#354648
07/18/09 09:01 AM
07/18/09 09:01 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,012
indiana
mcmopars
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,012
indiana
|
Quote:
Quote:
I can't figure out why you all are having trouble with air pockets.
I have never drilled a stat, I have never had issues with air pockets. Not in an old car at least, had a few newer ones that had to have air released. But those have closed cooling systems.
same here,in 30 years ive never had air pocket issues.now gas issues are another thing
|
|
|
|
|
