ITime to stimulate some discussion on the forum... I'm interested to learn about other peoples experiences of running Gammas without a Thermostat.
I've been experimenting for a few hundred miles to see how the car runs without a Thermostat and it seems to be fine.
After 5 mins the temperature needle moves to sit at about 2 nothches above the 120F starting point on the temp scale i.e. about 1/3 of the arc towards the ideal midway point so equivqlent to ~140F.
When the car has sat at idle for about 5-10 minutes, the temperature will climb slowly to midway on the temp scale and then returns to ~140F when cruising at 70mph on the motorway. After each run I let the engine temp climb to 190F and then I switch off. Comments please...
Sans Thermostat!
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Angle Grinder
Re: Sans Thermostat!
Since the car is only used in Summer it seems prudent to reduce the inherent danger of overheating due to the notorious failed Gamma Thermostat.
Running without a Thermostat means operating temperatures of ~140F = 55C so its low, but not so bad that it affects the running.
I'd heard from a Lancia specialist garage that most Gamma owners also ran their cars without a Thermostat so I was interested to see if this was the case.
Running without a Thermostat means operating temperatures of ~140F = 55C so its low, but not so bad that it affects the running.
I'd heard from a Lancia specialist garage that most Gamma owners also ran their cars without a Thermostat so I was interested to see if this was the case.
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jogo
Re: Sans Thermostat!
It has been a long time since I read about the topic of gammas-sans-thermostat. Since 06 I 've not read any further comments about this subject. It is almost Gammas-driving-time again, thus I ask if angle grinder or mike have more recent infomation for the rest of us, who are hungrily awaiting news ? Or any one else ?
Were these items less reliable only on Gammas ? & if yes, can't they be simply replaced with a more reliable thermostat. I asked my local Lancia guy (Walldorf / Baden, Germany) & he said it would increase gas consumption 3 to 4 liter per 100km, Since I don't know better (he is the man with the Meisters-degrees hanging on the wall) , I havn't any reason to doubt his word. My drivess are usually at night or early mornings,
low traffic & not in heat of the day...so I've never experienced any overheating. However, there is a Gamma Meeting in Holland this summer & that is far away & may occur during non-rainy days (I hope so).... & I want to be ready. Is it a good idea to have a 2d fau installed ? I've read about installing Kenlows in old Jags &
wondered if this is recommended for Gammas as well as other young old-timers ?
Were these items less reliable only on Gammas ? & if yes, can't they be simply replaced with a more reliable thermostat. I asked my local Lancia guy (Walldorf / Baden, Germany) & he said it would increase gas consumption 3 to 4 liter per 100km, Since I don't know better (he is the man with the Meisters-degrees hanging on the wall) , I havn't any reason to doubt his word. My drivess are usually at night or early mornings,
low traffic & not in heat of the day...so I've never experienced any overheating. However, there is a Gamma Meeting in Holland this summer & that is far away & may occur during non-rainy days (I hope so).... & I want to be ready. Is it a good idea to have a 2d fau installed ? I've read about installing Kenlows in old Jags &
wondered if this is recommended for Gammas as well as other young old-timers ?
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jogo
Re: Sans Thermostat!
oops.I just read more comments under the heading 'oil-pressure-guage'. So now I know more !
or do I ? I am not sure !
or do I ? I am not sure !
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Angle Grinder
Re: Sans Thermostat!
Hi Jogo,
Sorry been too busy to reply. Running the car without a thermostat has had no obvious detrimental effect, but I was only using the car on sunny days in summer and always allowed the engine to run up to full temp before switching off. The oil pressure thing is apparently just a common thing with the pressure sender and not a problem issue.
I will, however, be reinserting the thermostat this summer.
Sorry been too busy to reply. Running the car without a thermostat has had no obvious detrimental effect, but I was only using the car on sunny days in summer and always allowed the engine to run up to full temp before switching off. The oil pressure thing is apparently just a common thing with the pressure sender and not a problem issue.
I will, however, be reinserting the thermostat this summer.
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Ruud
Re: Sans Thermostat!
Hi John, Angle,
I wonder what the purpose is to drive without thermostat? When all ok the Gamma should be fine to run as designed. There are some known problems with stuck thermostats--overheating--headgaskets. And the thermostat is mounted on a very bad DIY place. What we do if the thermostat is stuck, remove it, saw it from the flange and remount the flange. Then we place a cheap Renault 5 tube thermostat in the top hose to the radiator just after the pod. If this one failes (It does also) then you can easy replace it and it's cheap. Moreover we modify the fan switch with a grounding wire to the front fog light switch on the dash (Mostly unsed) then you can manually actuate the fan when standing in a jam on a hot summer. But if the system is ok it all should work normal even at hot days (Known in Italy) Some cases are known that people bought a Gamma withou thermostat, removed by the seller because the leaking headgasket trows out all the water. Then when moved the thermostat you migh drive for a while (Engine doesn't get hot while driving) until catastrofic failure of the gasket and you see a lot of white smoke. So when buying a Gamma take a look at this issue.
Regards,
Ruud
Gamma Drivers Holland
I wonder what the purpose is to drive without thermostat? When all ok the Gamma should be fine to run as designed. There are some known problems with stuck thermostats--overheating--headgaskets. And the thermostat is mounted on a very bad DIY place. What we do if the thermostat is stuck, remove it, saw it from the flange and remount the flange. Then we place a cheap Renault 5 tube thermostat in the top hose to the radiator just after the pod. If this one failes (It does also) then you can easy replace it and it's cheap. Moreover we modify the fan switch with a grounding wire to the front fog light switch on the dash (Mostly unsed) then you can manually actuate the fan when standing in a jam on a hot summer. But if the system is ok it all should work normal even at hot days (Known in Italy) Some cases are known that people bought a Gamma withou thermostat, removed by the seller because the leaking headgasket trows out all the water. Then when moved the thermostat you migh drive for a while (Engine doesn't get hot while driving) until catastrofic failure of the gasket and you see a lot of white smoke. So when buying a Gamma take a look at this issue.
Regards,
Ruud
Gamma Drivers Holland
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gamma as in goat
Re: Sans Thermostat!
Hi, I've replied via e-mail earlier today, since Ruud was kind enuf to email this message to me. I reply here again, albeit in much shorter form. Thanks Ruud, very informative & interesting. I don't have an overheating problem, neither do my Gamma's (ha ha), however on the day I picked up my silver S1 in Rüdersheim at Auto Theile after it got a S2 motor installed, it overheated in the parking lot; which was better than on the Auto -bahn. Herr Theile poured more liquid in it & pronounced it as being OK. It hasn't reoccured since.....but I will definately take some middle long trips before driving to Grou in Jun from sunny Rhein-Nackar Valley, just to be sure......if Gamma Wolfgang reads this...let me know if you are dabei on the Gamma Trip,,,this time we can take my Gamma, but you can still drive; I'll sleep JoGo; Walldorf - Baden - Germany