Your car’s thermostat will likely need to be replaced after 10 years or more of operation. The thermostat is a long-lasting cooling system part, but it does go bad eventually. Checkpoint Motors would be happy to replace your thermostat when it needs it. We are going to discuss the symptoms of a faulty thermostat below so you know what to look for when it comes to your automobile. Replacing the thermostat as soon as possible is crucial to preventing engine damage from overheating.
Rusty/Corroded Thermostat Housing
One sign that your thermostat needs to be replaced is if the metal housing has become rusted or corroded. This is a sign that the thermostat has developed a slow leak out of the coolant valve. Unfortunately, this leak is generally undetected because the coolant does not drip onto the garage floor. Rather, it just pools around the thermostat and rusts the housing. Replacing the thermostat at this stage is important. Otherwise, you will end up with…
Coolant Leaking Onto the Garage Floor
Once the rust has eaten through the thermostat housing, you will end up with a serious coolant leak that reduces the coolant level in the cooling system. Unfortunately, the low coolant level will cause your engine to overheat, but we will talk more about that at the end of this post. If you see puddles or spots of coolant on the garage floor, it’s possible that it is coming from the thermostat. It’s important to note that the water pump, radiator, and radiator hoses can also leak among other cooling system parts.
Strange and Erratic Engine Temperatures
Even if your thermostat isn’t leaking, it can still go bad. If you have strange and erratic changes to your engine temperature, the thermostat is malfunctioning. You will be able to see the temperature changes on your temperature gauge. This is a sign that the thermostat is confused and does not know when to release the coolant into the engine. You will need to replace the thermostat to restore your engine’s normal operating temperature.
An Engine That Overheats Constantly
Finally, as we mentioned above, if the thermostat is leaking, your engine will overheat. Your engine will also overheat if the thermostat is malfunctioning and releasing the coolant at the wrong time. Finally, your engine will overheat constantly if the thermostat has died and isn’t releasing the coolant at all.
Call Checkpoint Motors in Oregon City, OR, today if you are experiencing any of the problems listed above. We will test your car’s thermostat and replace it if necessary.
