Board logo

S2000 thermostat will not open
wylliezx9r - 10/6/13 at 10:08 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have installed the s2000 engine everything is running fine and dandy apart from the fact that the thermostat will not open. I have tested the stat in boiling water and it opens fine. Bit of backround on my install; I have removed the heater pipes and looped the outlets together and I am using a del sol racing radiator that has the same size outlets/inlets as the S2000 standard rad. Basically the engine gets up to temp, the top hose gets hotter and hotter while the bottom hose remains freezing eventually the fan cuts in. No matter how long i leave the engine running for the bottom hose remains cold due to no flow through the stat and the engine temp gets higher and hiher

I'm thinking that it must be an airlock. Ive tried using the bleed valve near the inlet manifold but it doesnt seem to be making any difference. Does anybody know of any good bleeding methods or of any other possible causes ?

Any help much appreciated as the car is booked for a tuning session on a rolling road in a weeks time

Thanks Dan.

beaver34 - 10/6/13 at 10:09 PM

jack the back of the car high and lift the header tank if you can

v8kid - 11/6/13 at 03:37 AM

Take the stat out and try again. If the same then you know it's not the stat.
Assuming that does not work disconnect the heater loop and flush through with mains water to force airlock out. Check water pump vanes ok and turning.
Check there is not a blockage in rad by taking top hose off whilst mains water connected.
If that don't work I'm stumped

Cheers!

BaileyPerformance - 11/6/13 at 01:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by wylliezx9r
Hi Everyone,

I have installed the s2000 engine everything is running fine and dandy apart from the fact that the thermostat will not open. I have tested the stat in boiling water and it opens fine. Bit of backround on my install; I have removed the heater pipes and looped the outlets together and I am using a del sol racing radiator that has the same size outlets/inlets as the S2000 standard rad. Basically the engine gets up to temp, the top hose gets hotter and hotter while the bottom hose remains freezing eventually the fan cuts in. No matter how long i leave the engine running for the bottom hose remains cold due to no flow through the stat and the engine temp gets higher and hiher

I'm thinking that it must be an airlock. Ive tried using the bleed valve near the inlet manifold but it doesnt seem to be making any difference. Does anybody know of any good bleeding methods or of any other possible causes ?

Any help much appreciated as the car is booked for a tuning session on a rolling road in a weeks time

Thanks Dan.


Drill a 3mm hole in the base plate of the stat, this will help with air locks and allow some water to pass over the stat enabling it to open, sometimes a small amount of water movement even with the stat shut can help.
Modern cars like the S2000 have quick warmup systems that can be effected by even minor piping changes - the hole in the stat acts like a pypass hose on an old mini.

wylliezx9r - 11/6/13 at 01:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by BaileyPerformance
quote:
Originally posted by wylliezx9r
Hi Everyone,

I have installed the s2000 engine everything is running fine and dandy apart from the fact that the thermostat will not open. I have tested the stat in boiling water and it opens fine. Bit of backround on my install; I have removed the heater pipes and looped the outlets together and I am using a del sol racing radiator that has the same size outlets/inlets as the S2000 standard rad. Basically the engine gets up to temp, the top hose gets hotter and hotter while the bottom hose remains freezing eventually the fan cuts in. No matter how long i leave the engine running for the bottom hose remains cold due to no flow through the stat and the engine temp gets higher and hiher

I'm thinking that it must be an airlock. Ive tried using the bleed valve near the inlet manifold but it doesnt seem to be making any difference. Does anybody know of any good bleeding methods or of any other possible causes ?

Any help much appreciated as the car is booked for a tuning session on a rolling road in a weeks time

Thanks Dan.


Drill a 3mm hole in the base plate of the stat, this will help with air locks and allow some water to pass over the stat enabling it to open, sometimes a small amount of water movement even with the stat shut can help.
Modern cars like the S2000 have quick warmup systems that can be effected by even minor piping changes - the hole in the stat acts like a pypass hose on an old mini.


The stat already has a small air hole (not sure what diameter), would you add another or enlarge it ?

Thanks Dan

adithorp - 11/6/13 at 01:48 PM

Is the water level in your header tank higher than the thermostat? If not the and there's a bleed pipe between the header and the top of the system, water level will be below the 'stat and you won't get circulation.

BaileyPerformance - 11/6/13 at 01:48 PM

yep, add a 3mm hole to make sure you have antiquate bypass