Thermostat? ok to run with out one?
 

I have been driving with out mine for about 2 or 3 months...

it would be wise to fix it, its pretty simple and pretty cheap... but i don't think you'll have a catastrophic failure or anything unless it overheats.

water pump
 

Ive had the replacement for like 3 or 4 months. I am just afraid that it might over heat with the thermostat in. I think maybe my water pump might not be working correctly.

IIUC... If your engine is running "cool"... the computer is programmed to burn more fuel in order to warm it up to "normal operating temp." This "running rich" can cause excess unburned fuel that the catalytic converter is then tasked with burning off. That wears out your catalytic converter, which is FAR more expensive than a thermostat.

I'd suggest fixing the thermostat. Even if you go ahead and replace the radiator, water pump, the 2 "notorious" fittings, etc. it'll still be cheaper than a new catalytic converter. Granted, your car isn't in any danger of blowing up, there's no real benefit to not fixing it.

no this is bad. The engine will never reach a temperature where it is able to boil off the moisture in your oil.

I agree with all of the advice, especially roadrash's. While removing the thermostat won't cause immediate damage, it will cause long term damage. Your overheating issue is likely due to the system not being bled properly after the thermostat was removed. You may have had air in the system or another problem prior to removing it. Perhaps the old thermostat was bad. But when you put the housing back on and topped the system off, you should have bled it as air has surely filled the void where the coolant leaked out and has worked it's way into your radiator where it will remain trapped until you properly bleed the system. You will need to repeat the bleeding process several times to successfully get all of the air out of the system. I posted a link in your other thread explaining the process. And yes, INSTALL THE FREAKIN THERMOSTAT ALREADY! Then bled the system:wink:

The thermostat you removed was probably causing your overheating problems if its not overheating without one.

Just an observation, but if the waterpump isn't working correctly in Miami, FL, you would have toasted the engine long ago.

There are plenty of threads here detailing overheating issues with the M42/M44 engine. That should encourage you to update the cooling system components for hundreds before it overheats costing thousands.

+1 Roadrash on the cat. That thing is nearly thousands for a good oem.

Listen to the above posts. If the motor never reaches operating temps it runs rich and it will wear out quick. Metal parts need to be a operating temps or they are not a clearance and your motor will wear out 50%-75% quicker.

This is a fact. No BS about this unless the motor is setup to run cold like a racing motor.

John Smith

Don't worry about overheating. The cooling system will do it's job. Not very wise to ride around without a thermostat. As already posted, You're running full rich, toasting your cat(s), sucking down some fuel, you're not letting it get up to operating temperature quickly enough which isn't letting the fuel atomize as well as it should. A thermostat is cheap insurance, if you're that worried about overheating, you're problem probably lies somewhere else.