Call University Auto Repair today to set up a service visit for your automobile if the thermostat has gone bad. One of the first determining factors that the thermostat has gone bad is its age. The factory thermostat is designed to last for about 100,000 miles. This is usually approximately 10 years. After this time, the thermostat may start to leak or malfunction. We are going to list below the signs that your thermostat is leaking and/or malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.
Rusted Thermostat Housing
If the metal housing that surrounds the thermostat is rusted, the thermostat is leaking. This leak is a small one that isn’t noticeable. The only way you can tell that the thermostat has a small leak is by inspecting it to see if there is rust or corrosion on the metal housing. Generally, this leak is left unchecked because inspecting the thermostat is not something you would think to do.
Leaking Engine Coolant
Because this leak is left unchecked, the thermostat may start to leak more engine coolant as the rust eats through the housing. Unfortunately, you will know that you have a coolant leak at this point because you will have coolant on the garage floor. Replacing the leaking thermostat will stop the coolant leak and keep plenty of coolant in the engine. In order to prevent your SUV, car, or truck from overheating, you need plenty of coolant circulating through the engine while it is running.
Erratic Temperatures
As we mentioned above, an older thermostat can also start to malfunction. When this happens, you may notice that your engine’s temperature changes back and forth between cold and hot erratically. If this is happening with your automobile, the thermostat is not reading the engine’s temperature accurately. Consequently, it may be releasing the coolant at the wrong time. This can leave your engine with a temperature that is too cold, too hot, or fluctuating between the two extremes.
Overheating Engine
The thermostat can also die completely and cause the engine to overheat all the time. Unfortunately, there’s no way to resolve this problem except to replace the thermostat. If your engine starts to overheat quickly after you fire it up, the thermostat is not working properly. This can also be a sign that the water pump is malfunctioning and not circulating coolant.
University Auto Repair in Flagstaff, AZ, is here to help, so call us today for an auto service appointment.
