In our last blog post, we talked about the signs that your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s water pump is going bad. Now, let’s talk about the thermostat. Auto Solutions explains that the thermostat is the cooling system part that releases the coolant into the engine so the water pump can circulate it. As with the water pump, the thermostat can last up to 10 years or between 100,000 miles and 150,000 miles. Below, you will see the signs that the thermostat is going bad. If your automobile is doing any of the following things, head straight to our shop so we can test the thermostat and replace it.
Corrosion or Rust on the Thermostat
If you suspect that your car needs a new thermostat, come to our shop so we can inspect the original thermostat. If we see that it is covered in corrosion and/or rust, we will replace it right away because it is leaking slowly. This corrosion is an indication that the coolant is leaking out of the closed valve and puddling around the thermostat. Naturally, the liquid is going to eat through the thermostat metal and cause a larger leak. When this happens, you will have?
Leaking Coolant on the Garage Floor
If you back out of your garage and see puddles or spots on the garage floor, cut the engine and check to see if your automobile is leaking coolant. Once the coolant has eaten through the thermostat metal, the thermostat will liberally leak coolant onto the garage floor. Unfortunately, this leak will reduce the coolant level in the engine and you will end up with an engine that is running hotter than normal.
Strange/Erratic Temperature Changes
Speaking of an engine that is running hotter than normal, if you start to notice strange and erratic temperature changes in the engine as reflected by the temperature gauge, the thermostat is malfunctioning and failing to release the coolant at the right times. This can happen even if the thermostat isn’t leaking. This is a sign that the thermostat is too old and misreading the engine’s temperature.
An Engine That Overheats Constantly
Finally, a faulty thermostat is going to make your engine overheat all the time. In fact, if the thermostat does not release the coolant into the engine, your engine will overheat quickly after you start it.
Auto Solutions in Orlando, FL, is here to help, so give us a call today if your vehicle is having any of the problems listed above.
