Lotus Elan Central

by **Ghost** » Thu 27.12.2007, 21:12

My engine is taking a very long time to warm up, so I suspect that the engine thermostat is either missing or stuck open.
The temperature gauge hardly moves off the stop unless I leave the engine running with the car stationary for about 15 to 20 min!

It probably could do with a thermostat change, as I have no record of it ever being done.

Any suggestions as to the type and temperature range that I should get?

I know that the OEM stat is 180F/82C, but would a higher temp stat be any advantage?

Also has anyone found any difference between a 'wax' stat and a thermo-mechanical stat, as the wax stat is supposed to be more accurate on temperature operation?

Steve

by **Enright** » Thu 27.12.2007, 21:50

Halfords HTK602 - £6 IIRC.

by **GeoffSmith** » Thu 27.12.2007, 21:51

Steve,

The colder weather has affected how fast mine appears to warm up. If you want to be sure, you could do an ElanScan run with the car stationary from cold start until the fans kick in and out.

Geoff

by **tweetdriver63** » Fri 28.12.2007, 07:49

Ghost wrote:
The temperature gauge hardly moves off the stop unless I leave the engine running with the car stationary for about 15 to 20 min!

That sounds pretty normal to me. It takes 3-5 minutes driving for me to notice a rise on the temp gauge, so 15 or so just sitting at idle from a cold start seems to make sense to me.

There's a lot about testing the stat in the repair section.

Ghost wrote:Any suggestions as to the type and temperature range that I should get?

Personally, I'd go with the OEM. Colder and you get into problems you can read about on the "Lower temp fan switch" thread (sorry I'm too lazy at almost 1 am to find the link), and nobody would want to deliberately make the engine run hotter, would they?

Ghost wrote:I know that the OEM stat is 180F/82C, but would a higher temp stat be any advantage?

Steve

Uhh....

by **DeeAitch** » Fri 28.12.2007, 15:38

Some interesting views here

by **tweetdriver63** » Fri 28.12.2007, 17:43

DeeAitch wrote:Some interesting views here

That's actually the thread i was thinking of.

by **Ghost** » Sat 29.12.2007, 12:16

Hi all,

I have read the various links on 'thermostats' and there seems to be some confusion between the engine thermostat and the cooling fans thermostat!

I know that my cooling fans thermostat is OK as they 'kick in' at theright point on the gauge.

My problem is that in normal running (i.e. not stuck in heavy traffic) the gauge needle does not move off the bottom stop! This is my reasoning for changing the engine thermostat.

As it will only cost me a few pounds to change the engine stat, I may as well do that just for peace of mind, and will use the standard temperature stat.

I will also check it with Elanscan as my daughter is back from Uni. and I can 'borrow' her laptop.

Thanks all for the advice.

Steve

by **Enright** » Sat 29.12.2007, 13:26

For the price of it, I think it's a no-brainer.
After all, it could fail in the closed position and then you're liable to cook your cylinder head gasket.

by **rip** » Sat 29.12.2007, 23:30

Enright wrote:After all, it could fail in the closed position and then you're liable to cook your cylinder head gasket.

You don't want that.

I am faced with this nasty task after a rad failure. :evil:

by **Ghost** » Sun 30.12.2007, 17:11

Just an update!

I have been to the local Halfords to buy a HTK602 stat as previously recomended by Enright, but it is no longer stocked and apparently is no longer listed on their computer system.
I have sent off an enquiery to Halfords to check if it has been discontinued or given another stock number.
In one of the previous threads, a Quinton Hazel stat (QTH102K) was sugested as an alternative, but looking it up on their web site it give the opening temperature as 88c, which is higher than I would like.
I have also sent an email enquiery to QH to see which stat they recomend for the Elan turbo.
When (or if) I receive an answer to my enquierys I will post the information.

Steve

by **paulwatkins** » Sun 30.12.2007, 20:10

What do Halfords now list for the UK Izuzu Piazza Turbo?

Thats what the HTK602 stat was for.

by **Specky** » Sun 30.12.2007, 20:17

Got one yesterday from Halfrauds.. :shock:

£5.99

TTFN

by **Specky** » Sun 30.12.2007, 20:21

It comes with a load of gaskets to....

TTFN

by **GeoffSmith** » Sun 30.12.2007, 23:41

paulwatkins wrote:What do Halfords now list for the UK Izuzu Piazza Turbo?

Thats what the HTK602 stat was for.

The Fiat boys reckon it's for a 1litre Fester

by **tweetdriver63** » Sun 30.12.2007, 23:47

When my car's thermostat outlet pipe cracked, I also replaced the thermostat. I didn't think it was so complicated. I went to Autozone and got the stat listed for the Isuzu Impulse. It works perfectly. Why all the hubbub?

by **tweetdriver63** » Sun 30.12.2007, 23:49

When my car's thermostat outlet pipe cracked, I also replaced the thermostat. I didn't think it was so complicated. I went to Autozone and got the stat listed for the Isuzu Impulse. It works perfectly. Why all the hubbub?

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 31.12.2007, 00:02

tweetdriver63 wrote:got the stat listed for the Isuzu Impulse. It works perfectly. Why all the hubbub?

We ain't got II's in the UK!

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 31.12.2007, 00:11

A word of warning from Mondeo and ScoobyDoo forums - aftermarket thermostats may not be to OEM specs. Has anyone got an original Lotus 'stat or picture to compare against the aftermarket ones?

by **GeoffSmith** » Mon 31.12.2007, 00:29

I've started a section in WikiLEC for aftermarket references and this includes the QH catalogues. Please feel free to add any others.

Geoff

by **tweetdriver63** » Mon 31.12.2007, 01:27

geoffsmith wrote:
tweetdriver63 wrote:got the stat listed for the Isuzu Impulse. It works perfectly. Why all the hubbub?
We ain't got II's in the UK!

Geoff,
you have PM.

My source was Autozone, but they don't ship internationally. Rockauto does, and they have the Impulse stats. Personally I would go with either the stant or Beck-Arnley fail-safe designs, and I think 180 degrees is the OE temp (at least that's what is shows for the Impulse, N/A and Turbo).

Lotus Elan Central

Replacement thermostat

Replacement thermostat

Re: Replacement thermostat

Who is online