Radiator Cap--flow rate through radiator

[Tom Cloud]

yes, yes ..... finally, a man almost as intuitive and articulate as me am  ;-)

>
>>There's a problem with the argument below.  If the water is in contact with the 
>>block long enough to pick up some thermal energy (and no matter how small the 
>>time of contact is, there _will_ be a thermal transfer if there is a difference 
>>in temperature), then it will be in contact with the radiator fins long enough 
>>to get rid of the same amount of thermal energy, provided the radiator is 
>>properly designed.  Obviously if the radiator is too small, or clogged, or 
>>bypassed, or what-have-you, then the temperature of the water will continue to 
>>rise as time goes by.  
>>
>
>Not only does it not absorb enough heat from the engine, it goes through 
>the rad so fast it doesn't release the heat either. Getting the coolant 
>up to a high enough temp  gets the temp difference at the rad higher, 
>allowing the rad to shed more calories or BTUs. This effectively removes 
>more heat, even if the operating temp is a bit higher. I know it does 
>not make a lot of sense, but without a restrictor in an engine running 
>without a stat, overheating of the valve area, for instance, with 
>resulting head cracks and/or detonation can be a real problem.
>

Tom Cloud

   Warning, dates in calendar are closer than they appear !