Your Car’s Thermostat and Common Signs Showing it Needs a Replacement
Probably the most common symptom of a bad thermostat is overheating. The engine starts to overheat due to excessively low coolant levels, and the metal thermostat housing will begin to warp. These are all signs that the thermostat is about to need replacement. Below are five other signs your car needs a new one. Hopefully, one of these will point you in the right direction.
1. Overheating
You may notice the temperature gauge on your dashboard rising or dropping suddenly. This may be a sign of a malfunctioning car thermostat. Your engine must remain within a certain temperature range to run properly. If the temperature gauge suddenly drops or rises, you may need to replace the thermostat. Here are some tips to identify a malfunctioning thermostat. Once you’ve noticed one of these signs, you can take action.
If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in your car’s temperature, it’s likely the thermostat is broken or stuck shut. Replacing the thermostat is easy and cheap. Fortunately, if you notice an overheating engine, stop immediately, shut down the car, and call a mechanic to check the thermostat. If left unchecked, an overheating engine can cause serious damage to your engine.
2. Coolant leak
If you’ve recently noticed a coolant leak in your car, you may want to take your vehicle to a mechanic for a diagnosis. While you may be able to fix the problem yourself, it’s always best to take your vehicle in before it becomes too severe. Fortunately, repairing a coolant leak in your car’s thermostat housing is a fairly simple task. Depending on the problem, the repair could take as little as 20 minutes. The repair itself can prevent major engine damage.
The most common cause for a coolant leak in a car’s thermostat housing is an over-tightened or damaged hose clamp. In rare cases, a foreign object could also be to blame. Either way, the leaky coolant can cause the engine to overheat, contaminate the oil, and leave you stranded on the side of the road. It’s never good to have a coolant leak in your car, so catching it early is highly recommended.
3. Coolant leak causes hoses to warp
Whether your car has a cooling system leak or is simply leaking coolant, it’s always a good idea to inspect your hoses periodically. If the leak is small, the problem may be easily resolved by tightening hose clamps. However, if the leak is extensive, it’s best to take your car to a mechanic to repair it. The hoses on your car can warp due to coolant leaks.
If your car’s radiator hoses are warped due to a leak, it’s time to replace them. Generally, the hoses connect the radiator to the water pump. The coolant flows through these hoses and is subject to high temperatures and pressurized air. However, these hoses can break or warp due to a variety of factors. In some cases, the leak may be too small to see from inside the vehicle, but it’s worth checking them to prevent the problem from affecting your engine’s cooling system.
4. Overheating causes metal thermostat housings to lose their original shape
Overheating can damage cooling system components, including the metal thermostat housings. When the temperature rises, excessive heat causes the metal thermostat housings to lose their original shape, making it impossible to properly function. This could cause your engine to overheat and self-destruct. To prevent this from happening, keep your car cool by checking the coolant level regularly. If you see any of the signs of overheating, replace the thermostat as soon as possible.
If you suspect that your metal thermostat housing is losing its original shape, you should check it for leaks. The common cause is overheating. When the engine gets hot, it will leak coolant. You can check this by listening to your engine for unusual noises. You may hear knocking, gurgling, or boiling sounds. If these sound like your engine, the thermostat is leaking or the gasket is worn out.