Will a car overheat without a thermostat?

Question

2004 dodge intrepid 3.5 litre motor

Answer 1

Yes, your car will over heat. in most cars today there is a lower sealing area of the thermostat area--the small round plate on the bottom, that is for the coolant by-pass. when cold it allows coolant to circulate in the engine to allow for quick heat up. at around 190 degrees the thermostats starts too slowly open, while the bypass starts to seal off the by-pass. at what ever your thermostat is set at 200,210,215, ..... the thermostat will be fully open and the by-pass fully shut so that all the coolant will go threw the radiator. if you leave out the thermostat--the bypass will be fully open ,and all your coolant will do is circulate in the block and not threw your radiator---and you will overheat.
what? the coolant will flow too fast threw the Radiator to cool--lol, when the car is 220 degrees and the stat is fully open it doesn't overheat then!!!!. that is only possible if ,your a car with "low flow cooling" and rod out the "Dimpled cores"--this may be a 2-3 core radiator but not a 3 pass radiator.

Answer 2

Here is what has been said:
1. Your car will overheat.
2. Your car will underheat.
3 The thermostat regulates engine coolant temperature.

Number three is definitely correct. Your car (and all others) needs a thermostat for the coolant regulation. The engine light will turn on and the engine may not run very well.

I have heard/read that story about how the engine will overheat without a thermostat due to the coolant running through the radiator too rapidly to adequately transfer heat into the air. That would also should mean that the coolant runs through the engine too rapidly to pick up heat. Frankly, I always have trouble believing this story, although some specific examples (as opposed to a general statement) may exist. I have twice tried running without a thermostat and the engine (both V8s)underheated both times - not overheated. So I would say that my experience and common sense would give the nod to underheating

Answer 3

Some cars will, some won't. It depends on if the thermostat is also used to regulate the flow of coolant. The thermostat housing without a thermostat will run at full open allowing the coolant to flow faster and in some conditions will circulate too fast to cool down. In any case, if the engine does not warm up to normal, the computer will do all sorts of things to your engine and transmission, causing roadability problems.

Answer 4

Your thermostat opens when your engine reaches a tempature, 180 or 190 degress, without a thermostat the coolant circulates all the time and your car takes longer to warm up. Your car CANNOT overheat without a thermostat, your cooling fans will still come on and cool the radiator, in fact you vehicle will run cooler than normal.

Answer 5

I agree with Mr. bumbles, on most cars. Except this is a 3.5 liter intrepid.U have an aluminum engine with tight clearances and specific temperature ranges that it was designed to run at. Remember these ain't your grand pa's cars anymore. Not running at specified temp. Will effect not only mileage but performance. It will change your block learn and fuel trim. Not to mention damage to your o2 and catalytic converter. It will cause your IAC to open and cause the engin to idle highter tying to reach your normal operating temp. Than like Mr bumble said if it gets to hot the fans will kick in. Since intrepids have two fans. That are controlled by the ect It is nearly impossible to overheat.

Answer 6

I had a broken thermostat in my dodge neon. When we pulled it out, it came out in 3 pieces, it was just letting the coolant flow freely. The only trouble I had was in winter, I didn't have a heater because it wouldn't ever get hot enough and stay hot. I drove with a broken thermostat for just over one year. I never had the vehicle over heat. Just ran cold.
The temp gauge in the car still registered, but when I was stopped, it would go up to the correct operating temp, and when I took off, it would drop down really low.

Answer 7

Yes it can. W/o a thermostat, the coolant travels through the radiator too quickly, thereby not allowing the coolant to cool down properly. It would take awhile, but the car can overheat.

Answer 8

the only why your car will overheat without the thermostat is if you remove the radiator or the hoses

Answer 9

Assuming that it doesnt leak without a thermostat it will most likely run too cool. An excessively cool engine is an inefficient engine and your economy will suffer.

Answer 10

YES.
The thermostat only helps regulate the temperature. If the motor is running, you know it's gonna probably get hot sooner or later.
Think of it this way : If the thermostat in your home heating stops working, then your heater will either put out heat or not put out heat - but there will be nothing to tell it when to stop.