Effects of a thermostat stuck open.

Max_Damage

I replaced the thermostat on my Escort today. For ages it was stuck open (the temperature gauge barely went over the 'cold' mark). What are the effects on the engine when it was constantly stuck open?

firefly08

I bet you'll be fine. I had exactly that issue on an Opel Astra before, drove it for ages in the winter with the thermostat stuck open...no problems ever came from it. Waste of fuel, and pretty uncomfortable waiting for the heater to kick in in the mornings but that's about it.

Max_Damage

Max_Damage wrote: »

I replaced the thermostat on my Escort today. For ages it was stuck open (the temperature gauge barely went over the 'cold' mark). What are the effects on the engine when it was constantly stuck open?

None really, well it never get's to optimum temp but I don't thing the engine in the Escort will mind that too much Ragging it to death with a stat stuck open wouldn't be the best idea though.

Our man in Havana

No problems apart from the heater not working properly. A stuck closed thermostat is 1000 times worse.

Gary ITR

The one in my teg was stuck open, not a big deal really. Fuel economy was rubbish and it idled higher after motorway runs. That was about it

Max_Damage

Thanks lads. Fuel economy has been a bit crap lately.

It was surprisingly hard to find a thermostat in various motor factors for this engine, the 1.3L engines in the Escort's are considerably rare. Went to a Ford dealer in the end.

Our man in Havana

They are not an expensive item in any event.

Anan1

A thermostat stuck open will have the engine running rich - that's why fuel consumption rises. The extra fuel will wash the oil film from the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated bore wear.

easygoing39

Respect to anyone using an Escort as a daily driver.I have a fond spot for them.What year is it if you dont mind me asking??

savagecabbages

I don't know how it would run rich, but the engine (specifically the oil) is designed to run at a specific temperature and at anything below or above this the oil wont work properly and all the moving internals will wear much faster. The thermostat helps keep the engine at its optimum temperature by opening and closing.

Too cold and the oil wont get up to temperature and remain 'thick', or heavy like syrup.
Too hot and the oil becomes too 'runny', or light and splashes around rather than sticking to parts.
Its why there are different weights of oil for different types of engine/fuel/even climate.

You wouldn't really notice it in driving, but the engine will wear far far faster. And yes a closed one is 1000 times worse!

Max_Damage

easygoing39 wrote: »

Respect to anyone using an Escort as a daily driver.I have a fond spot for them.What year is it if you dont mind me asking??

1995 Mk6. See the sig.

cjt156

savagecabbages wrote: »

I don't know how it would run rich...

ECU will run a richer mixture until it senses the engine has reached proper operating temp - like the manual choke of old.

savagecabbages

Ha spose it was obvious it was a modern one but I was imagining an older escort in my head

Would it still adjust the mix up as far as the 60/70 degrees i'm assuming an open thermostat would get it to? I would have though it would only adjust the mixtures at very low temperatures for the first minute of running... Then again I know nothing about mid 90s ford ecus

Break all ties

I had the problem of an open thermostat on my Polo. I drove down the M4 from Swansea to Reading in December and the temperature gauge never stirred off of cold. When I was at a standstill in traffic the gauge then rose to the normal level but as soon as you took off again within 2 minutes the gauge was back at stone cold. Considering the ambient temperature outside was around 2 degrees C it made for an uncomfortable journey.

zilog_jones

Max_Damage wrote: »

It was surprisingly hard to find a thermostat in various motor factors for this engine, the 1.3L engines in the Escort's are considerably rare. Went to a Ford dealer in the end.

Would it not be the same part as with 1.3 Fiestas? I had no trouble getting one from a motor factor, cost about €12 IIRC and it's still working 4 years later.

I wouldn't have thought 1.3 Mk6 Escorts are that rare, I've seen a good few around that at least sounded like those particular engines

easygoing39

Max_Damage wrote: »

1995 Mk6. See the sig.

Lovely collection mate,have a 1987 Escort myself!!