Texan Auto Repair & Collision is the only auto shop you need for all of your vehicle’s maintenance and repairs. We can even replace the factory thermostat if it is malfunctioning. Generally, the thermostat will start to have problems when your vehicle reaches its 10th birthday. In terms of miles, this usually equates to about 100,000 miles. You will start to notice the problems listed below if the factory thermostat is on its last leg and needs to be replaced. We can take care of this for you.
A Thermostat Housing That Is Rusted
If you are concerned that the thermostat may be going bad, pop the hood when your engine is cold and locate the thermostat. Your owner’s manual will have a diagram of the engine near the front. Once you locate the thermostat, check the metal housing to see if you can see any rust on it. If you can see corrosion, your car’s thermostat has a minor leak. We recommend that you replace the thermostat at this time to prevent the leak from getting worse. The corrosion is going to eat through the metal housing. When this happens, you will end up with…
Coolant Spots or Puddles in the Garage
Unfortunately, this can create a problem for the engine because the thermostat is leaking enough coolant to reduce the level found in the cooling system. If the cooling system does not have enough coolant to circulate through the engine, your engine is going to overheat. If you have fluid spots or puddles on the garage floor, check the coolant level in the engine when the engine is cold. Never check the level of coolant in the engine when the engine is hot.
Unpredictable and Strange Temperatures
Your thermostat may also start to malfunction. Its primary job is to read the engine’s temperature and release the coolant when it’s time to do so. If the thermostat is faulty, it may not read the temperature correctly. Consequently, it will release the coolant at the wrong time. As such, you will see unpredictable and strange temperature changes on the dashboard’s temperature gauge.
An Engine That Overheats Constantly
Finally, there will come a point when the thermostat is no longer operating. When this happens, it will not release the coolant into the engine. Unfortunately, this means that your engine is going to overheat every time that you drive your car, truck, or utility vehicle.
Texan Auto Repair & Collision in Sugar Land, TX, is here to help, so call us today if you believe that your automobile needs a new thermostat.
