Anyone have luck running without a thermostat?

we should really concern ourselves more with oil temp. By design, the oil system is your primary cooling system. It pulls out the majority of the heat and water is used to make up the difference. (or air, if you motor is covered with fins)
Ordinarily, Oil temps must be at least 185* for complete combustion. That usually means about 200* of water temp. Any less and your not being very nice to your motor. Anything over 240* water temp should be a concern. Just for info, today's high efficiency performance engines run around 220*. Anyone know what kind of oil temp that is?

 

I think that the oil cooling covers the reciprocating parts. The water cooling has to effect the cylinder head and exhaust regions. There have been some threads; on aluminum vs iron heads on Flatties. It makes sense to have the combustion chamber at temp, so that the flame front and power developed are ideal...and at best efficiency. My concern would be that the minute a motor is running too cool, you've begun to loose power by affecting the IC process.

 

I run at 190* Water temp (closed hood and with a Tstat)and i dont have any problems in performance (that i can notice anyway!), but it jumps to 210 once in a while in heavy traffic on hot days and it worries me but thats when the electric fan kicks in and brings her back down to 190 =)
The oil temp is something i honeslty never thought about, i'm gonna look into that! Althought I think i'm ok and not at high risk.
-Anthony