
Originally Posted by
Shadetree MKNX
In my opinion, thermostats are only important because they allow the engine to attain proper operating temperatures quickly and maintain it the whole time it is running.
i think that is a good enough reason to have them.
more than letting the water stay in the engine longer (thereby letting it take more heat from the engine), the thermostat lets the cooling liquid stay longer in the radiator letting it cool down more before having to go back around the engine (so that it is cooler when it eventually has to go back around).