![]() When the coolant has become too warm, it passes it back to the radiator, which works to return it to a suitable temperature.Ĭold Engine – When the thermostat determines an engine is too cold, it closes itself. This part works alongside your vehicle’s radiator. When the valve closes, it blocks the entry of fresh coolant to the engine, allowing it to warm up. When the valve is in the open position, coolant is able to flow through it, which lowers the engine’s temperature. The thermostat valve allows coolant to circulate and keeps the engine cool.Īs it functions as a valve, the thermostat has 2 positions: open and closed. Therefore, it is the job of the thermostat to regulate the temperature between these extremes, creating a happy medium that promotes optimum driving by controlling the flow of coolant that can circulate the engine. While many of us are aware of the potential perils of an engine overheating, an engine also will not work properly when it is too cold. What does the thermostat valve do?Īlso known as the thermostat valve or simply the thermostat, this valve is responsible for moderating the temperature of a vehicle’s engine. Let’s take a look at what this part does, how to diagnose failures, and how to fix it. One of those parts is the thermostat valve. Knowing the functions of some of the key parts of your vehicle and keeping on top of maintenance is essential for any driver. Should you choose to trade your vehicle in for a newer model, its overall condition will increase its value. In fact, this can stretch in to decades if the vehicle is well-maintained and cared for. Finally, the engine is checked for leaks.A good car can serve you faithfully for many years. ![]() This will confirm the thermostat is open. The car engine is run until the normal operating temperature is reached, and while taking precautions with the hot coolant, the coolant level is rechecked while confirming there is flow through the radiator - either visually or with an infrared temperature gun.The cooling system is refilled with the appropriate coolant type and the system is fully bled of all air.The thermostat housing bolts are tightened to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications using a calibrated inch-pound torque wrench.A new gasket is applied and the thermostat is re-installed in the correct orientation and with the temperature sensing cylinder facing downward towards the engine. All mounting surfaces on the thermostat housing are cleaned of old gasket material.Note that some cars have more than one cooling system thermostat and both might need replacement. The thermostat housing is removed and the thermostat and gasket are extracted.Once the engine is completely cold, the radiator cap is loosened and enough coolant is drained from the radiator so the coolant level is below the thermostat housing.How do mechanics replace the engine cooling system thermostat? Therefore, if the cooling system is already open for major repairs, such as water pump or radiator replacement, it is recommended to install a new thermostat simply as insurance against future breakdown. Your dash-mounted temperature gauge will notify you of this malfunction. Thermostats can get sticky, causing the engine temperature to stray from the optimal range. Temperature gauge reads too low or too high.If so, it would be repaired prior to replacing the thermostat. Since it is usually not known how badly the engine overheated, the mechanic will also try to determine if there is evidence that the cylinder head gasket was blown. However, since there are other causes of overheating, a mechanic will thoroughly inspect the cooling system prior to condemning the thermostat. A thermostat with the valve stuck closed is a common cause of engine overheating. When to consider replacing the engine cooling system thermostat:
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