I installed a Motorad 82C thermostat in my 2003 Ody to increase the heating and defrosting here in the mountains. It ran quite a bit hotter than the OEM Honda thermostat averaging a temp of about 203-208F. A month later on a 1k mile trip I was running 208 to 217F to a couple of very short stints at just above 220F at 70+mph in around 90F ambient temp. Both my radiator fans were working well.If I downshifted to D3, my engine temp quickly fell down to around 200 from 217.
I bought a Honda thermostat (78C) and put it in a pan of hot water along with the Motorad thermostat and , low and behold, when the water was boiling (very near sea level) the Motorad was only opening about 1/3 as much as the Honda thermostat. That WAS the problem. The original Honda thermostat (yes I had all three in the pot at the same time ) opened about 80% as much as the new Honda thermostat and still at least as twice as much as the Motorad.
So, even though Motorad is a highly respected brand of thermostat, I would advise testing any new thermostat in a pot of hot water (using a thermometer) to make sure the damn thing is working properly before going through all the trouble of installing it. I sure wish I would have.
I am now running around 188F in my shorter test trips in aprox 90F ambient air temps.
Anyone else have problems with the Motorad thermostat?
Just thought I would share this info.
Buffalo4
PPS:I still might order another Motorad 82C thermostat, but I WILL test it first before I just blindly install it. That goes for any other brand also, including Honda.
I bought a Honda thermostat (78C) and put it in a pan of hot water along with the Motorad thermostat and , low and behold, when the water was boiling (very near sea level) the Motorad was only opening about 1/3 as much as the Honda thermostat. That WAS the problem. The original Honda thermostat (yes I had all three in the pot at the same time ) opened about 80% as much as the new Honda thermostat and still at least as twice as much as the Motorad.
So, even though Motorad is a highly respected brand of thermostat, I would advise testing any new thermostat in a pot of hot water (using a thermometer) to make sure the damn thing is working properly before going through all the trouble of installing it. I sure wish I would have.
I am now running around 188F in my shorter test trips in aprox 90F ambient air temps.
Anyone else have problems with the Motorad thermostat?
Just thought I would share this info.
Buffalo4
PPS:I still might order another Motorad 82C thermostat, but I WILL test it first before I just blindly install it. That goes for any other brand also, including Honda.