So embarrassing to say but after overheating issues last week I had a handy friend of a friend help me out. Ran ok enough to get me home but kicker is when I got home found he must've taken thermostat out (pic) and it was sitting in truck bed (least I think it's the thermostat based on a Google search...). Where does this go and is it normal I could have driven it without it? Overheating wasn't a problem coming home so beats me....any suggestions welcomed
Could it be that he replaced the t-stat? Ask him. That picture shows clearly that you have rust in the system, and probably that scaling is all over in the cooling system and the radiator, causing less cooling and sometimes even partly blocking of the radiator. The complete cooling system needs a good flushing to get that stuff out and then use proper coolant and water mix. It is not good to run the engine without thermostat, the engine must run at operating temperature as quick as possible, if the engine temperature is not at operating temperature, that results in more engine wear and higher fuel consumption as the coolant temperature sensor reports also the engine coolant temperature to the engine control module. Buy the Honda Acty repair manual from James Danko, here some free pages which show the cooling system https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=WhhKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=honda+acty+thermostat+replacement&source=bl&ots=aD4IzBuFI0&sig=GnpLmZ3m-clW52Uo3I4hprG7s5E&hl=de&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=honda acty thermostat replacement&f=false New t-stat you can get for example from here http://yokohamamotors.net/store/page61.html or here with the gasket http://www.rightdriveparts.com/hond...onda-acty-thermostat-ha3-ha4-ha5-hh3-hh4.html link to bleed system https://minitrucktalk.com/threads/thermostat-question-truck-getting-hot.15902/ coolant flushing http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a78/1272246/ http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-flush-your-vehicles-cooling-system.html some people run vinegar for a flush http://www.examiner.com/article/green-car-maintenance-solutions-vinegar-radiator-flush-and-more some more how to.. http://techauto.awardspace.com/overheating.html
If the t-stat is removed, the fluid pushed by the water pump is also then flowing the way of lowest resistance = into the radiator and not into the small cooling passages of the engine. But too much flow is also not good, because the whole system of heat transfer is based on a given flowrate. Yes ... lack of thermostat can cause overheating as the coolant flow thru the radiator is so fast the fan cannot cool it. There is a reason the engineers designed the engines with thermostat for controlled cooling. Every engine has an ideal operating temperature. Too low or too high is not good for the engine health or the health of your wallet = more fuel consumption when operating at too low temperature.
Great to learn all the in and outs......so curious whereabouts appx. Is the t stat from engjne? Accessible thru top or from underneath.....and last the drain screw by oil filter won't budge, is it good/bad to try to flush coolant with only the front radiator drain open (I think so far the 2 top screws on engine for venting r openable.
Just follow the radiator hoses. I thought you could ask your friend who removed the t-stat how he did. See the link to the repair book of James Danko under engine cooling, all described there with drawings. https://books.google.co.jp/books?id...e&q=Honda acty thermostat replacement&f=false Also here some info https://minitrucktalk.com/threads/does-anyone-know-how-the-coolant-system-flows.15918/ If you want to drain it the quick and dirty way: at your risk, remove radiator drain and then start the engine for a very, very short time, to the water pump start pushing the coolant and will push all to the radiator and a lot will come out. Then you can also disconnect both hoses from the radiator and use a garden hose and push water thru the radiator, top feeding and at the bottom it will come out and drain again, maybe that helps to flush the radiator at least.
