One of the most important parts of the car’s cooling system is the thermostat. It facilitates the movement of coolant from the radiator to the engine, preserving ideal engine performance.
In order to help control the coolant in the engine, it is a good idea to check your thermostat during every routine maintenance. For the auto thermostat to work correctly, temperature fluctuations are necessary.
How Can I Test My Thermostat Without Removing It?
You might believe that taking it to a mechanic for diagnosis is the best course of action if your thermostat is stuck open or closed. I have excellent news. I’ll demonstrate how to inspect a car’s thermostats for problems without taking them out.
A malfunctioning thermostat is a frequent reason for an automobile to overheat. Examine this component if you have any suspicions about it being the offender. Here’s how to inspect an automobile thermostat without taking it off.
1. Check if the thermostat is stuck open.
When a car overheats, the radiator hose ought to be heated. Even when the engine is overheated, the radiator hose won’t be hot if your thermostat is stuck closed. As a result, inspecting the radiator hose should be done first.
Place the car in a flat, firm parking spot. Press the parking brake or shift into neutral, based on the gearbox. After starting the car, let it idle until the dashboard’s temperature needle begins to slowly approach the North Pole.
Hold the upper radiator hose while grabbing a towel. If it’s warm, your engine isn’t getting coolant into it until it reaches its maximum operating temperature because of a stuck open thermostat.
It’s OK to believe that you checked the radiator hose before letting the engine reach its typical operating temperature. Thus, before examining the hose once more, you can let the engine run for a little while longer. However, if it’s still warm, your thermostat has to be replaced because it’s jammed open.
Please be aware that thermostats typically open to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, until the coolant reaches this temperature, a functioning thermostat should stay closed. Furthermore, the coolant must to be quite hot—185 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Check if the thermostat is stuck closed.
A stuck closed thermostat is uncommon, but it’s simple to spot because the car will begin to overheat.
Switch off the engine. Hold the top radiator hose with a cloth or towel. By now, the radiator hose ought to be scorching. If the hose is cool, on the other hand, your thermostat is stuck closed and needs to be replaced.
Recall that an overheating engine is a common indicator of a stuck closed thermostat. The thermostat will not permit coolant to circulate to the radiator and engine if it is locked in the closed position. Thus, make sure the radiator doesn’t get too hot.
There is just one thing to do if you discover that the car thermostat has to be replaced.
Read this comprehensive essay on the causes, symptoms, and fixes for faulty thermostats if you’re unsure how to diagnose a malfunctioning thermostat or how to remove one from an automobile.
Conclusion
High-temperature fluctuations, grime, and debris can all cause an automobile thermostat to malfunction. Coolant leaks and overheating engine warning lights are the typical symptoms you’ll observe. Check out this article: Coolant Temperature Reading: What’s Normal and What’s Not. I highly recommend it.
Therefore, check the thermostat if you think it may be the cause of your engine overheating. Fortunately, a car thermostat can be tested without being taken out.
To check your thermostat, scroll up to the simplified method above and follow the directions.
