What he is referring to about the radiator is sometimes the front of it can get clogged with leaves/bugs/etc. Make sure that there are no obstructions in front of the radiator. Otherwise it cannot do it's job.
I wouldn't use water instead of coolant. And I would not run it without a tstat. At least, not for long. I ran with a failed tstat for a few days while the new one was on order. Tstats now are designed to fail in the open position, so that would create the same environment as no tstat at all.
I wouldn't use water instead of coolant. And I would not run it without a tstat. At least, not for long. I ran with a failed tstat for a few days while the new one was on order. Tstats now are designed to fail in the open position, so that would create the same environment as no tstat at all.