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A vehicle's thermostat controls the amount of coolant running through the engine and so information technology doesn't overheat. But if your temperature gauge consistently stays past the ¾-marker or in the red zone when you run your vehicle, it could be a symptom of a bad thermostat that needs to be replaced. Luckily, it simply takes a few minutes and a couple of tools to modify your thermostat yourself. Our guide will show you how to remove the bad thermostat and replace information technology with a new i!

  1. 1

    Wait for the engine to cool downwards if yous drove recently. Equally you bulldoze your vehicle, the coolant running through the engine heats upward and could cause astringent burns. Before you make your repairs, give your vehicle 30–60 minutes so it can absurd off. To check the temperature, open the hood and lightly touch your engine to see if it feels hot. If it's cool to the impact, and then you tin work safely.[1]

    • Never work on your vehicle while it's running since yous could become injured.
    • Endeavour leaving the hood open to help your engine cool off faster.

  2. 2

    Take the cap off of your radiator. Locate your radiator, which is a long blackness box under your hood and in the forepart of your engine bay directly behind the grille. Look for a circular cap on top of the radiator and turn information technology counterclockwise to loosen it. Set up the cap aside while you're working so you don't misplace it.[2]

    • Never open the radiator cap if your engine is nevertheless hot. The radiator may have congenital-up force per unit area, which could spray hot coolant when you open the cap.
    • If y'all observe coolant leaking out from the radiator cap before you unscrew it, buy a replacement.

    Variation: Your vehicle may accept a articulate plastic reservoir most the dorsum corner of the engine bay that stores boosted coolant. Yous can unscrew the reservoir cap instead of the radiator cap.

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  3. 3

    Put a baste pan underneath your radiator's bleed plug. Look underneath your vehicle at the lesser of the radiator and look for a modest plastic wingnut or plug. Slide a baste pan directly under the plug so your coolant doesn't spill everywhere or make a mess while you're working.[3]

    • You can buy a drip pan from an automotive supply store. If you don't accept a baste pan, you can also utilise a bucket.
    • You may need to jack your vehicle onto stands if you can't get under your vehicle to notice the drain plug.

  4. four

    Drain half of the coolant out from your radiator's bleed valve. Turn the drain plug on your radiator counterclockwise until you meet a steady stream of coolant pour into the drip pan. Check the levels of the coolant past looking into the radiator. Y'all only need to remove enough coolant to expose the thermostat, and so once half of the coolant flows out from the plug, turn it clockwise to tighten information technology once again.[4]

    • You lot exercise not need to drain all of the coolant from your vehicle.
    • Salvage the coolant you lot drained since you can keep using it.
    • If your coolant is filled with dirt or floating debris, you may need to flush your radiator to clean it.

  5. 5

    Unbolt the thermostat housing from the engine block with a ratchet. Follow the hose from the pinnacle of your vehicle's radiator to the side of your engine. Where the hose connects to the engine volition be the housing for the thermostat. Find the ii bolts on each side of the housing's flange and turn them counterclockwise with a ratchet. In one case you loosen the bolts, you can easily lift the housing upwardly to detach it from the engine.[v]

    • Y'all exercise non demand to remove the radiator hose, but you can unclamp it if you accept trouble reaching the housing's bolts.
    • If the housing has dents or pitting, you should also supplant information technology.

  6. 6

    Pull the quondam thermostat out with a pair of pliers. Check the port on your engine where you removed the housing to locate the thermostat, which looks like a cylinder with a metal band around the outside and a pointed valve on top. If you don't see the thermostat in the engine port, information technology may be stuck in the housing terminate with the hose. Grip the top of the thermostat with the pliers and pull it straight out. If the thermostat feels stuck, try twisting it equally y'all pull it out.[6]

    • Save the old thermostat until you get a new one or take pictures of it to ensure that you buy ane that's exactly the same.

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  1. 1

    Get a replacement thermostat and gasket with the aforementioned heat rating. Look effectually the thermostat's ring for a temperature listing, which is when the thermostat opens and allows coolant to pass through the engine. Look at an automotive store for a thermostat that lists the same opening temperature, or else your vehicle may not operate properly. Then expect for a thermostat gasket that matches the shape of the housing'southward flange and then the coolant doesn't leak while your vehicle runs.[vii]

    • New thermostats and gaskets usually cost over $fifty USD full, but information technology may exist more expensive depending on the make and model of your vehicle.[eight]
    • The blazon of gasket you purchase depends on the brand and model of your vehicle.

  2. 2

    Remove any residue from the housing and engine flanges with a scraper. Concord your scraper against the housing flange at a 45-degree angle. Utilise light pressure to scrape off the balance that was leftover from the old gasket. Keep cleaning the flange until it'southward smooth. And so scrape the flange on the engine.[9]

    • If you don't make clean off the residue, then the housing won't sit properly and could cause coolant to leak.
    • Avoid existence also forceful with your scraper since the thermostat housing is unremarkably fabricated from aluminum and can easily get damaged or dented.

  3. iii

    Put the thermostat in the engine flange and then the valve points up. Inspect your new thermostat to discover the pointed valve on meridian and the leap on the bottom. Slide the thermostat into the port on your engine and push it in tightly. Make sure the thermostat's ring fits perfectly in the port, or else coolant will be able to leak through.[10]

    • If y'all install the thermostat with the leap side face-up, it won't open properly and could cause your engine to overheat.

  4. 4

    Line the new thermostat gasket up on the flange. Your gasket will look like a flat piece of plastic or rubber that's the same shape equally the flanges. Put the gasket on top of the engine's flange and line up the holes. Make sure you don't block any of the holes or ports, or else the thermostat won't work properly.[eleven]

    Variation: Depending on your vehicle'due south make and model, you may need to install a circular gasket directly on the thermostat instead of setting ane on the flange. Fit the thermostat'southward ring into the groove running through the middle of the gasket earlier installing the thermostat.

  5. 5

    Bolt the housing back onto the engine. Ready the housing on top of the gasket then the bolt holes line upwards. Plough the bolts clockwise past hand until they're tight. So utilise your ratchet to tighten the bolts until you feel resistance. Await up the torque specifications for your make and model of vehicle and simply tighten the bolts past that amount.[12]

    • Avoid overtightening the bolts since you could hands damage the aluminum housing.

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  1. 1

    Pour coolant into the reservoir up to the make full line. Locate the plastic coolant reservoir nigh the side or back corner of the engine bay. Open up the cap and cascade in the coolant you originally tuckered into the baste pan. If the coolant was muddy, then expect upwardly the coolant specifications for your vehicle and get a new canteen in the correct color.[13] Keep pouring the coolant in until it reaches the make full line on the side of the reservoir.[14]

    • If your vehicle doesn't have a reservoir, pour the coolant directly into your radiator.

    Alert: Vehicle coolant is toxic and can requite off harmful vapors, and then be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.[15]

  2. 2

    Screw on the radiator cap to seal it. Press the radiator cap dorsum onto the opening on acme of your radiator. Turn the cap clockwise to tighten information technology and seal the radiator then your coolant doesn't splash or leak.[16]

    • If yous don't put the cap back on, and then the thermostat and radiator won't role properly and your engine may overheat.

  3. three

    Start your vehicle'southward engine to run coolant through the organisation. Turn the cardinal in the ignition to run your vehicle's engine. Leave the engine to idle for 5–x minutes so the engine can warm up and activate your thermostat. As the engine runs, wait at the thermostat housing to come across if at that place are any leaks. Later on that, turn off your vehicle.[17]

    • Check the temperature guess on your dashboard to brand sure it stays below the ¾-mark. If the gauge still goes into the red zone, so in that location may exist a leak or you've installed the thermostat improperly.

  4. 4

    Superlative off your coolant once your engine cools downwards again. Since the coolant will run across your engine and radiator, the levels may become downwardly. Await until your engine completely cools again so you don't get burnt. Open the cap on the reservoir and check the coolant levels to see if you demand to add together more than. Pour the coolant in until it reaches the fill up line to ensure your engine doesn't overheat.[xviii]

    • Avoid overfilling the coolant reservoir since it could cause damage if pressure builds upwards.

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  • If you take trouble locating your vehicle'southward thermostat or don't feel confident making your repairs, accept the vehicle into a mechanic to take information technology fixed.

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  • Ever wait for your engine to cool down before you showtime working, or else you could get severe burns from the parts or the coolant.[nineteen]

  • Never bulldoze your vehicle without the thermostat since your engine could easily overheat.[twenty]

  • Vehicle coolant is toxic if ingested and can release harmful vapors.[21]

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Things You'll Need

  • Baste pan
  • Ratchet
  • Pliers
  • Vehicle thermostat
  • Thermostat gasket
  • Metal scraper
  • Coolant

References

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