Hi all,
Here is an interesting view. Some car owners and the mechanically inclined have this thing against thermostats. They remove it as soon as the car lands on African soil. They say that one does not need it here as the temperatures are never below Zero degrees Centigrade at any one time. Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, where Temps are really aggressively below Zero at times.
I for one feel that a thermostat should never be removed without being replaced. It is important to be able to regulate engine termperatures correctly. Minus a stat, going down hill at high speed, it is not uncommon to see the temp gauge sitting pretty at the bottom of the scale. And this cannot be good for an engine can it?
What about you? How would you advice on this one?

Water will flow around the block unrestricted and too fast, it will not have time to absorb any heat or cool the engine properly.

What part of Africa are you in?

I was working on my Buddies V8 Landrover in South Africa last month. We fitted a temp gauge to measure water temps into and out of the Radiator to ensure it was doing it's job, We left the thermostat in but the previous owner fitted an Electric fan with a cut-off switch to turn it off. It's almost always on but he can turn it off for very cold starts should he ever find himself down by Cape town in winter.

leave it in a cold engine uses more fuel apparently as it is less efficeient it also makes more condensation in the oil and causes sludge

Nairobi, Kenya is where am at @Fielder. I

Thermostat sought after, found and plugged in. Temp gauge now at a steady halfway mark when going downhill or uphill at speed.

sweet was ur one knackered then