Posted by John (216.249.77.93) on July 07, 2004 at 22:24:39:
In Reply to: Thermostat & water temperature posted by Dave Keyser on 16:05:37 07/07/04:
Your temperature is appropriate for a fresh water cooled engine. For salt water you should be using a 140 degree thermostat. I have never heard of a problem with the temperature rating of a new thermostat so you should be able to just buy one and install it. However if you want to check an old one the stadard method is to open it enough by hand to put a string under the part that opens. Then put it in water on the stove with a thermometer, holding it off the bottom with the string. Heat the water and watch the thermometer. It should drop off he string when the temperature reaches 140F or whatever it is rated for.