You can run the engine without a thermostat, but it never gets up to normal
operating temperature and you get lots more wear, and worse fuel economy. I
have had a thermostat stick open, winter time returning from Tahoe. No car
problem, except for ice on the inside the windows, and we and the daughters,
had on most of out heavy ski clothes.

"Bowgus" wrote in message
...
A suggestion ... don't run the engine very long without a thermostat ...
even better, don't run without a thermostat at all. One of the
thermostat's
function I've been told is to ensure a relatively consistent engine
temperature preventing parts warp etc.. Having said that, I had a
thermostat
fail closed on a Toyota. I removed it and drove home from ...
interestingly
enough Johnstown near where you're at ... to Ottawa without any apparent
problems.

I am going to try it this weekend with no thermostat and see what
happens. Stay tuned ...