Coolant Question?

[mudski]

Interested to know how coolant flows through a closed thermostat?

There is a small by pass next to the thermostat so when its closed water still can flow. Otherwise the system will pressurize from the water pumps continuous force.
Or something along the lines of that.
On a lot if jap and american truck engines they use a rubber hose as a bypass, on cars it's usually built into the casting of the engine.