Overheating....

[mazdazzspeed]

whether or not its the thermostate, putting a new one in is a good idea because the stock thermostates is about 192-195 degrees but you can get a 180 degree thermostate for it and just those few degrees can actually add a few horses because the cooler the engine the better.

[midnightblue97]

An engine runs most efficiently at temperatures just low enough to be below the boiling point.

[loch]

engines have an operating temperature
fall too low below it and it will decrease hp not add to it

[mazdazzspeed]

but the cooler the engine, the more fuel it'll add and the more fuel you add the faster you go.

[midnightblue97]

Originally posted by mazdazzspeed
but the cooler the engine, the more fuel it'll add and the more fuel you add the faster you go.

The more fuel you add without more air, the slower you'll go, and you'll fail an etest, and get ****ty fuel mileage.
If anytthing it would be the colder (denser) the air the more fuel would be added.
Are you trying to tell me that I should just remove my thermostat all together and constantly circulate the coolant to keep the engine as cold as possible??

[mazdazzspeed]

no i'm just saying that a 180 degree thermostate is going to add a few horses then the stock thermostate.

[sharpazcheddar]

overheating

if it is the water pump, which it could be, u might want to check under the engine for seal leakage. if it is leaking, i highly recommend replacing the timing belt when u do the water pump, because u have to remove the belt in order to access the pump. i know i replaced mine. i purchased a brand new-heavy duty all steel propellor pump, to insure long-lasting wear. because buying a cheapo propellor water pump will seize up and or rust. doing the timing belt is a real pain in the rear!even changing the pump is as well! don't buy a haynes manual to do any major repairs they suck! they give you very little instruction on how to remove/install and leave a heckava lot of details out. i purchased a factory shop manual (mazda) from ebay. it has absolutely everything on anything to do with the protege's.

but usually to check if your thermostat is sticking, pull it out , boil some water, drop it in , and see if the thermostat opens, it must open completely, if it doesn't replace it.

[Torped0]

Homie, i'll tell ya right now, it ain't no damn thermostat. When i bought my car... only prob i had was overheating lol. After one thing was solved, it'll overheat ANOTHER way. So we spended almost 2-3 grand fixing the parts. Well best thing to do, check to see if any of your piping to the radiator is blocked. That is one thing that happened. Its hard to remember what all we did because its been more than a year and the mechanic who was workin on my car didn't really tell us what was da prob and i haven't seen him in almost a year so.. he just dropped off the face of the earth. And yes, it seems i had the SAME problem as you. Cause I remember I was at our local gas station when my car started to smoke. And I asked a friend who i didn't know at the time to see if he can find the problem. We weren't able to but it kinda smelled like anti-freeze. And probably a few months later after me and a freind were haulin ass down the street, i pulled into auto zone to talk to a friend and out of no where car went up in smoke.. not in fire It seems a line that went from da radiator to the motor(not sure if it went to the motor) had busted and anti-freeze was thrown everywhere. So check with your radiator for one. It may be clogged. I seriously think its you radiator tho. We found my radiator clogged like hell, so we had it cleaned out and that solved da prob. Again, just take it to someone who is knowledgable about cars and they should be able to tell if its the radiator by feeling some piping. If it's cool, not hot.. then something is clogged. And as someone had said before me, check the waterpump... I've had to change that about 2 times in a year lol. Now my car is running pretty good... Hopefully i'll get my car back tho...