Cool Engine?

[mike7a10]

I had a clogged thermostat earlier this year and cleaned it out and replaced as I was not getting temp reading on the temp gauge. After cleaning, I now get a good temp read of about 120-140 and around 160 after motoring under power. I have noticed that even after a good hour or so at 1600 rpm, the thermostat is cool to the touch and all hoses and engine past the thermostat is also cool to the touch. The engine seems to be running OK and yet the thermostat appears to not be opening. Is this my imagination or should the thermostat be warmed up and letting hot water pass after a good hour of running under power? Any comments will be appreciated.

[Don Moyer]

Mike,

It's normal for the top of the thermostat housing to feel relative cool on a raw water cooled engine since there is always some cool bypass water moving through the housing, above the thermostat. The cool water mixes with hot water from the block and head moving up through the partially open thermostat, and both flows then move over to the manifold and out through the exhaust system.

Don

[mike7a10]

Thank you Don. Sorry for the delay in my response...Went out today for an all day sail and had to motor sail most of the way the engine ran fine. Thanks again! Mike