Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton
You always have full flow through the manifold regardless of thermostat position, even if you have no thermostat. As I offered earlier, an infrared temp gun measuring head temperatures would be an excellent diagnostic tool. Also, you can guaranty water flowing through the block if you obstruct the bypass hose, thermostat installed or not. If there's any uncertainty, the bypass hose is the one right next to the starter. Even a pair of vice grips will do in a pinch.
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I'll second Neil's advice to acquire an infrared gun to be certain what the engine temps are.
From there, you can get a permanent temp gauge working and you'll
know that it's working properly.
While you're verifying temps, try using the vise grips on the bypass (use a cloth to protect the hose) and observe the temp changing.
Those simple tests will give you some confidence in your engine cooling for your upcoming trip.
Finally,
here is a very good read related to your current questions.