Update 1973 Lincoln Warm Up Issues

Hi Bill!
It’s Steve again with the 73 Lincoln warm up problem. I checked the engine during warm up, I took the radiator cap off while the engine was still cold and I saw that the coolant was circulating in the radiator. It’s not supposed to do that, is it? The circulation in the radiator should start when the engine warms up and the thermostat opens up in the upper hose, right? I think my thermostat is open all the time. It’s a brand new one, and I replaced it because I was having the same problem; slow warm up. Can it be installed in the other way, backwards?
Thanks,
Steve
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Hi Steve –
If you can see coolant vigorously circulating through the radiator tubes at the filler neck with the cap off after start up and with the engine definitely COLD as you describe, then you are correct in your diagnosis. The thermostat is either faulty or nonexistent. A thermostat installed upside down usually results in overheating because the heat sensing element in the thermostat would then be sensing the cooler coolant at the upper radiator hose instead of the hotter coolant at the intake manifold passages. This would cause it to remain closed longer. I would purchase a new Premium quality thermostat rated at 190 degrees and replace your present seized or defective one. Let us know how it works out for you.
Sincerely,
Bill