It just doesn't make sense to me to send any coolant from a hot engine directly back to the engine without going through the radiator first.
Matt
When I look at the picture of the 261 with the bypass hose going from the water pump to the top side of the thermostat, I don't see it the same way as you do.
What I see is that there is water circulating around the closed thermostat via the bypass hose from the water pump, sending water to the radiator via the upper radiator hose. When the thermostat is closed, it cannot send any water back into the engine via the bypass hose. It all would go to the radiator upper hose.
Carl
