Thermo valve 3.2 throttle body question

[mnez]

While tracking down vacuum leaks with a smoke machine, I find smoke from around one of the nipples on the thermo valve.
My understanding is the thermo valve is meant to warm the throttle body with air from the oil tank during cold weather operation and does nothing during warm weather.

Is that correct?
What is the little blue cap for?

Since the car is stored for winters can I just remove the thermo valve and cap the vacuum connections at the throttle body and oil tank?

Any downsides to removing it?

'86 3.2 Carrera

[wjdunham]

I removed all that extra plumbing and capped off the small nipples on the back of the throttle body. The motor is installed in a '69 so I was not concerned about originality or smog. It's function is to prevent icing on the throttle body until the car warms up, so if you do not drive in those conditions it is fine to remove the hoses, switch etc... and cap off all the vacuum ports. I've had no issues with my setup.

Bill

[mnez]

Thanks Bill.
As it turns out, the vacuum hoses on the thermo valve were backwards, The throttle body U-line was connected to the nipple with the blue ring, so it was always drawing a little air from the vent under the blue cap. Reversed the lines and the leak is gone, so I just left it in place.