Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23

Thread: 4AC thermostat - needed?

  1. #1
    Site Supporter Driftspec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Keating
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Caboolture
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,619

    Default 4AC thermostat - needed?

    Hi guys,

    Long story short, the old 4AC in my car has been intermittently overheating on longer drives. Not badly, but sometimes enough to get steam coming out of the overflow. Radiator seems fine, water pump and fan are working, the only thing I (and others who I've talked about it to) think that the thermostat is acting up.

    My question is, can I rip the sucker out and just let the water flow all the time? Or should I just replace it as soon as possible?

    Thanks lads.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Matt-AE86's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Matt
    State
    WA
    Location
    Perth
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    971

    Default

    If you are planning on removing the motor sometime soon, just remove the thermostat.

    If you are planning on using the 4AC for a while longer. Replace the thermostat and remplace the water pump if it hasn't been replaced recently. Even if you say it "works".

  3. #3
    Site Supporter Driftspec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Keating
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Caboolture
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,619

    Default

    I don't know if it work for sure, but there isn't any strange noises that suggest there is anything out of the ordinary.

    I will be running it for a while yet, so if it needs to be replaced I might as well pull it out and test it, rather than just rip it out and be done with it.

    I also need to identify my radiator, I'm a little confused as I always thought it was a standard, but Callum (deleta) looked at it one day and said it was a Skyline rad. So I will have to grab some pics and post them up, and use the brain trust here to help out. It has a radiator places sticker on it, so I know its 2nd hand or reconditioned, at the least. I'll try and grab pics tomorrow, if I get time :|

  4. #4
    Elite rthy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Leo
    State
    VIC
    Location
    Tulla
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    7,305

    Default

    is it fwd or rwd? rwd dont have thermo stats?

    if u let the water flow that car wont keep operating temp, so id repalce it.
    just did mine cost $14 @ autoone
    30kw club

  5. #5
    Site Supporter Driftspec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Keating
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Caboolture
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,619

    Default

    RWD. 4AC in an ADM AE86.

    The engine has always run warm, so my line of thinking is that letting it run through isn't necessarily a bad thing. When I get time I will have to test it, and replace. Thanks for the price, hopefully its just that. If not... then its the pump or radiator. Woot.

  6. #6
    Veteran Golberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Lawrence
    State
    NSW
    Location
    Wollongong
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,339

    Default

    Other thing to look at is whether your radiator is blocked up at all.

    And for rthy up there, just about all cars have thermostats, FWD or RWD. Its integrated into the pump housing on a RWD setup.

  7. #7
    Elite rthy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Leo
    State
    VIC
    Location
    Tulla
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    7,305

    Default

    hmmm didnt find one when i took apart my old rwd 4ac water pump?
    any got pics of what it should look like?

    edit: nvm found it


    i guess my old ae71 4ac never had a thermo stat, i guess thats why it had problems getting to operating temp lols
    Last edited by rthy; 30th April 2009 at 11:29 PM.
    30kw club

  8. #8
    Veteran Golberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Lawrence
    State
    NSW
    Location
    Wollongong
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,339

    Default

    Something like this:


    Its behind the bottom pump inlet, somebody may have got to it first though.

  9. #9
    Veteran Jonny Rochester's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Name
    Jonathan
    State
    TAS
    Location
    Hobart
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    2,660

    Default

    If you run no thermostate, or if it is stuck open, the engine can overheat on a longer drive.

  10. #10
    Site Supporter Driftspec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Keating
    State
    QLD
    Location
    Caboolture
    Country
    Australia
    Posts
    1,619

    Default

    Thats what is happening Jonny, short drives are fine, but longer drives it gets hot. Being a 4AC, it doesn't lose any performance, but I think it will be staying in the car for a while now so I need it working well, to prevent other issues.

    The radiator was something thats probably worth replacing anyway, being fairly old. Like I said, I will need some help (when I get pics) to try and suss out what I have. Got prices and pics for replacement R32 and R33 rads today, if that is what I have already that would make a nice easy replacement. If not, might have to suss something else out.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Needed 4ac Engine..
    By metha in forum Cars or Parts Wanted
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 25th June 2008, 02:07 PM
  2. needed. 4ac carbie.
    By metha in forum Cars or Parts Wanted
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12th June 2008, 12:14 AM
  3. WTB 4AC water pump & thermostat, short stroke front shocks.
    By Ade_Mc in forum Cars or Parts Wanted
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21st October 2007, 12:45 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •