What does the thermostat on a car do?
A car thermostat regulates the flow of coolant through the engine and is an incredibly important player in the operation of your vehicle’s engine. You may hear the phrase “the thermostat was stuck open or closed.” When the engine has been sitting for a while and is not warm, the thermostat will be closed.
What happens if your car thermostat is stuck closed?
Learn more… Your vehicle’s thermostat opens to allow coolant to flow through the radiator and cool the engine down. However, if the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, the coolant can’t flow through the radiator and can make your engine overheat.
Is it time to replace the thermostat in your car?
Thermostat replacement is a fairly inexpensive repair to make to your vehicle, preventing potentially thousands of dollars in engine damage due to excessive heat. If any of the above symptoms sound familiar to you, it may be time to have an expert mechanic diagnose your vehicle.
What should the thermostat read on a Camaro?
A thermostat just starts to open at the rated temperature, not fully open. That’s why your newer cars with the 195 thermostat read about 210 degrees. What brand thermostat are you running?
A car thermostat regulates the flow of coolant through the engine and is an incredibly important player in the operation of your vehicle’s engine. You may hear the phrase “the thermostat was stuck open or closed.” When the engine has been sitting for a while and is not warm, the thermostat will be closed.
What happens if the thermostat on my car is stuck?
The opening and closing of the thermostat at the correct time are critical to maintaining proper engine temperature. In the event the thermostat happens to become “stuck” closed, there is no way for coolant to be circulated through the radiator and eventually back through the engine, which causes extremely hot engine temperatures.
How do I know if I need to replace my car thermostat?
Engage the parking brake and set your transmission to Neutral (manual) or Park (automatic). Start the engine and let it idle. Touch the upper radiator hose and lower radiator hose, so that you can feel the hoses’ temperature. Be careful with engine moving parts when doing this. Wait about 10 minutes and repeat step 3.
Why does the thermostat open when the engine is running?
Once the engine is running and reaches a certain operating temperature, a sensor inside the thermostat will cause it to open, allowing coolant to flow to and from the radiator, decreasing the temperature so it can be recirculated through the engine again.