3rd time replacing a thermostat...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 833
Likes: 1
3rd time replacing a thermostat...
As the title says, this is my 3rd time replacing the thermostat. I went for a ride today, and the temp went up to 210 within 4 miles. Stopped and checked, the fan was running, but the temp was still climbing. turned it off, the radiator was cold, and the engine was hot. I took the thermostat out, and ran the car without it and it never overheated. I know that 210 isn't technically overheating, but with the fan running it shouldn't be getting hotter. What's confusing me is why have I gone through 3 within a year?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
As the title says, this is my 3rd time replacing the thermostat. I went for a ride today, and the temp went up to 210 within 4 miles. Stopped and checked, the fan was running, but the temp was still climbing. turned it off, the radiator was cold, and the engine was hot. I took the thermostat out, and ran the car without it and it never overheated. I know that 210 isn't technically overheating, but with the fan running it shouldn't be getting hotter. What's confusing me is why have I gone through 3 within a year?
I have a NAPA 195 F in mine.
Been in there for 3 years now.
Has not failed, stuck open or closed.
Prior I have experienced very poor quality T-stats.
They are making nearly all daily driver replacement parts oversees in China.
And the quality is more often than not very bad.
Mr. Gasket, Robertshaw, Stewert, and a few others make the highest quality T- stats.
Used them in my other cars.
Used the Napa T-stat because it was on hand at work at the time.
Brian
You get what you pay for. Bought a cheapie once and had to replace it in a month, never again.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 4
From: Argillite KY
I bought two before I discovered the Stant OEM version. It cost a few dollars more but was actually built different than the cheapies. The cheaper ones would open up too far and actually **** sideways in the housing and stick there. Advance auto parts had the Stant in stock.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
Put it in a pot of hot water on the stove. With a thermometer monitoring the temperature, bring it up to 200 degrees and see what temperature it opens at. They are very simple machanisms. Either they open or they don't.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
You are doing one or more of the following:
1. Installing the wrong part.
2. Buying an inferior part.
3. Installing it wrong.
What did temp did it run at with stat out? Ambient temp? Did you test the "failed" ones?
1. Installing the wrong part.
2. Buying an inferior part.
3. Installing it wrong.
What did temp did it run at with stat out? Ambient temp? Did you test the "failed" ones?
