Why use a Thermostat

My thermostat went out two years ago and I tossed it overboard and kept right on sking. I asked the board members your same question. The story goes something like this:
The engine is designed to run at a certain temperature range and the tolorances are based on expansion at that temperature. Too hot and things are too tight. Too cold and things are too loose and not sealing correctly. Or something like that. I figure they're cheap enough to not worry about it.

the function of the tstat is to allow the engine to warm up before introducing normally colder water to the block. it allows for a more even displacement of heatthroughout the engine, fuel mileage may also be effected by engine temp.   hope that helps

Engines are designed with thermostats for many reasons and starting is not one of them.

It is actually more important that you run a thermostat in a boat than in a car. In a car with a closed cooling system you will eventually get up to operating temperature as long as it isn't really cold outside. In a boat you have an endless supply of 60-80F lake water and you will never warm the engine up.

Engines are designed with thermostats for a reason(s).
1. The tight tolerances engine components are machined to are meant to be run in a certain temperature range.
2. When an engine is run at cold temps for extended ammounts of time components wear faster (i.e. cylinder & ring wear)
3. When and engine is run at cold temps deposits build up leading to poor performance
4. Running cold coolant temps runs to cold oil temps and when oil doesn't get hot enough to cook off condensed water you will build up water in your oil.
5. When oil is cold it is thick, this robs horsepower and reduces efficiency.

In a pinch you won't do any damage without a thermostat for short periods of time (i.e. emergency).....but for crying out loud install a thermostat. The engineers put them there for a reason.

I,m convinced.....the tstat goes back in! There are two different tstats available for my ford engines. 140 degrees and 160 degrees. Which one would be best or does it relly matter? Thanks for all the help fellow Correct Crafters!

Boating with tstats in South Carolina.

RobG wrote: Running without it may also foul the sparkplugs. I found this out the hard way with my wifes's minivan. (Long story, take my word for it.)

That was likely from the smart fuel injection keeping the mix rich, thinking the engine was still cold.

it will happen whether it's injected or carburated

Thats backwards

160 will get the moisture out

carbed engine, it had a stumble on mashing the throttle, noticed it was running pretty cool. Checked and no theromstat, put a 160 in and stumble is gone because the enging is working at the designed operating temp.