Quick question, can a thermostat be damaged by a severe overheat, ie 290+ on stock temp. gauge? Also, what's the ideal coolant mix to run in Florida heat? 60/40 h20/coolant? Is water wetter all its cracked up to be?
Of course extreem heat can damage the stat, among other things. I have a Mr. Gasket performance stat that I put in recently. Its really beefy and has a larger opening in it. I hear they are supposed to stick open instead of closed too. My local auto parts store had to order it for me, $10 and one day to get it in.
I run about 80/20. Mostly water, it doesnt get very cold here and my hydrometer says it protected to 0 degrees. I have learned that the hydrometers are temperate sensitive though. Use distilled water, there is alot of minerals in the water here that will scale up your radiator.
when one overheats, there are steam pockets. these pockets will slam against the back of the stat (kind of like how fuel bangs back and forth violently in the fuel rails as the injectors open and close).
this can damage a stat and keep it from operating properly.