Problem - Temperature Rising/ Lots of smoke (2002-SANTE)

[hyparks]

Please someone step in if my answers are not correct but here is my thoughts.
I'm sure thermostats only operate at correct temperature.
Thermostats can deteriorate. I had one that was weak and opened too early so kept the engine around the 105 mark.
My old mastercraft didn't have a thermostat in the whole time I owned it ( 3 years ). I didn't even know that it was missing. I don't think it does them any harm but an engine does not perform at its best unless its at correct operating temperature.
I am still having same issue as you. Hot at idle but ok whilst moving.
I know my pumps ok, my strainer is tight - it was so tight I struggled to remove it. I have found some hose clips loose however on the hoses around the strainer and thermostat. Not tried it since tightening these but will do at the weekend.

[ski4evr]

Without a thermostat, your engine is actually running hotter than you think. Think of the cooling system as a heat exchanger. If the coolant does stay in the system long enough to absorb the heat, theoretically, the engine is actually hotter that the water circulating in it. The water circulating in the block is what feeds the temperature sending unit which is what feeds the gauge. A working thermostat will actually make the engine run cooler and is especially important in fuel injected systems. At least that is what I was taught when building my first "project".

[TRDon]

I will completely agree if this is a close water cooling system and has a radiator and use a heating excanger. However, if this is an open loop cooling system the water will be a constant 70 degrees and stay cold all the time.

[Chexi]

If the engine is a GT-40, if the computer thinks the engine is "cold," the fuel mix will be rich and you will burn more gas. There might be additional issues of running without a t-stat as well. Buy a new T-stat.

[obd666]

great, just sounds like a thermostat stuck closed. simple enough, replace and ride