What happens if the thermostat on my car fails?

What happens if the thermostat on my car fails?

A thermostat that fails “closed” will cause an overheating condition. Conversely, a thermostat that sticks in the closed position will completely block coolant flow to the radiator where heat is disbursed away to the outside air. Engine temperatures climb rapidly and dangerous overheating soon results.

Why does my car overheat when I Turn on the heat?

By a large margin, the most common cause for engine overheating is simply a low coolant level. Your engine’s cooling system relies on coolant to circulate and remove heat from the engine. If you don’t have enough coolant in there to do the job, heat will build up and your engine will overheat.

How does the thermostat work on an engine?

To do this, the thermostat will start off in the fully closed position – blocking any coolant flow into the radiator where it would lose heat. Instead, the coolant is redirected back into the engine block to ensure it reaches its ideal temperature (around 190 degrees) sooner – regardless of how hot or cold the outside air is.

Why is my car still overheating after replacing the water pump?

As for the vehicle still overheating, if all of the parts you have replaced are working fine, then you may have an air flow issue through the radiator. If this was the case, the vehicle would still cool at higher speeds and just not around town.

By a large margin, the most common cause for engine overheating is simply a low coolant level. Your engine’s cooling system relies on coolant to circulate and remove heat from the engine. If you don’t have enough coolant in there to do the job, heat will build up and your engine will overheat.

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.

How can I get the thermostat out of my car?

The thick black hose runs from the side of your radiator and attaches to the top or side of your engine block with a tube clamp. Use a screwdriver to loosen the nut on the tube clamp and then pull the hose off of the engine. Set the end of the hose aside for now so you can access the thermostat housing on your engine.

To do this, the thermostat will start off in the fully closed position – blocking any coolant flow into the radiator where it would lose heat. Instead, the coolant is redirected back into the engine block to ensure it reaches its ideal temperature (around 190 degrees) sooner – regardless of how hot or cold the outside air is.