pwrtripls1

My thermo is stuck open and never really even gets warm. I'm hearing alot about diesels running more efficient when there up to temp, so is this true? I'm use to gas engines where cooler is better. So do I need to replace it for better mpg? It sure seems to run great and never miss a lick.

lovemysan

It certainly does on a computer contolled gas engine. But for a diesel I have no idea

John Faughn

Both gas & diesel need to have a min. temp. to run the best about 165-190.

ChrisLib

Can`t say i noticed a change in fuel milage with mine, but the heat sure is nice :-)

edwinsmith

IC engines are "HEAT" engines meaning that the combustion of fuel makes heat which expands and pushes on a piston to do work. If the combustion chamber is kept at a lower temperature then more energy is being disapated into the water jacket and eventually out the radiator leaving less heat to expand the gases and push the piston. Therefore you get less work out of a given amount of fuel.

If you could run your engine hotter without burning things up you would improve the thermodynamic efficiency of the system and get even better mileage. The engine temp setting is a tradeoff between efficiency of the combustion and the durability of the engine.

Edwin

John Faughn

Rudolf Diesel came up with a diesel that did not require a cooling system, no water jacket ,no coolong fins. I di not remember but I thought internal combustion engines wear about 30% for gas & diesel about 40% and that most of the energy was lost in heat , so I wounder what the effency of that eng. would be.

Alec

Edwin is right on the money. That is why cummins and the military were experimenting with adiabatic (no heat-loss) engines that used synthetic oils and ceramic combustion parts . . .

Running you rengine without a thermostat is not good for it. It can cause condensation to occur inside the combustion chamber and valve passages. The thermal cycles in those areas excelerate corrosion from this condensate, and this can lead to premature failure from corrosion induced fractures or wear. . .

I don't even turn the heater on until the engine is up to operating temperature.