Review on Mishimoto MMTS-CIV-92L Racing Low Temperature Thermostat for Honda Prelude 92-96 by Phil Casey

I bought this thermostat to fit a 1999 Honda Accord 2.3 VTEC that was having overheating issues. Due to the extreme temperatures inside the car, all sorts of oil leaks occurred, so the owner wanted to keep the engine temperature as low as possible. This is a well built part, almost identical to the Honda OEM part. It's 10 degrees colder, which means the thermostat opens at 68 instead of 78 degrees. Installation is easy, and unlike some Mishimoto thermostats, the gasket on this one fits right in, eliminating the need to reuse the old gasket. The car runs a little cooler with this part so there is a difference but not as big as I was hoping. Simply providing coolant flow at a lower temperature does not mean better cooling. A car needs a way to dissipate heat, which means it needs a better radiator. Important factors are the thickness of the heatsink and the power of the fan. These items must be upgraded with the installation of this product if you want maximum cooling. However, if the engine runs too cold, the check engine light will illuminate and cause performance issues. Overall the thermostat is a good product but quite expensive ($49) for being made in China. The thermostats in the auto parts store are also made in China and cost $8. A US-made Honda part costs about $18.