Help with C5 thermostat swap.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,811
Likes: 14
From: Lake Fork TEXAS
It's pretty easy to do ... Some good advice get a new housing before doing the job ....
Get your car up on stands .
The stat is on the right of the car .... The only bad thing is that it's way down there and is easier to do from the bottom side of the car ... Remove the 2 bolts and reinstall ...about 4 hours to complete
Get your car up on stands .
The stat is on the right of the car .... The only bad thing is that it's way down there and is easier to do from the bottom side of the car ... Remove the 2 bolts and reinstall ...about 4 hours to complete
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
Thank you for the quick response. The thermostat is right in my face when I'm on the side of the car. Are you sure it takes that long to do it. I would assume just drain all the coolant, undo the two screws and swap thermostats. Then I would refill the coolant.
Am I way off?
Am I way off?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,811
Likes: 14
From: Lake Fork TEXAS
It's prolly me
Thank you for the quick response. The thermostat is right in my face when I'm on the side of the car. Are you sure it takes that long to do it. I would assume just drain all the coolant, undo the two screws and swap thermostats. Then I would refill the coolant.
Am I way off?
Am I way off?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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The longest part is waiting for the coolant to drain...
Crack open a beer and surf Corvette Forum while you wait! You can reach the coolant drain twist plug without jacking up the car or driving up on ramps, but it's a tight fit. You can do it if you reach up behind the passenger front wheel. Make sure your catch pan is ready because it begins to drain the moment you turn the plug.
I installed my low temp stat after I had my A4 tuned by Chuck of C.O.W. Since I had just had my coolant swapped out less than 100 miles earlier, I re-used by coolant. I just poored it back in thirds and burped the hoses to make sure the air was out.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 90
Likes: 1
The longest part is waiting for the coolant to drain...
Crack open a beer and surf Corvette Forum while you wait! You can reach the coolant drain twist plug without jacking up the car or driving up on ramps, but it's a tight fit. You can do it if you reach up behind the passenger front wheel. Make sure your catch pan is ready because it begins to drain the moment you turn the plug.
I installed my low temp stat after I had my A4 tuned by Chuck of C.O.W. Since I had just had my coolant swapped out less than 100 miles earlier, I re-used by coolant. I just poored it back in thirds and burped the hoses to make sure the air was out.
Good luck!
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From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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and it is plastic so be careful in turning it and not breaking it. http://www.iammoon.com/c5tech/coolant_drain.htm
You can do it that way. I did it in thirds just to make sure the coolant was moving through the system and that I was getting rid of any air. You should make sure you note the level of fluid in your overflow tank before hand and make sure you are at the same level when you're done with the swap.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
It's pretty easy to do ... Some good advice get a new housing before doing the job ....
Get your car up on stands .
The stat is on the right of the car .... The only bad thing is that it's way down there and is easier to do from the bottom side of the car ... Remove the 2 bolts and reinstall ...about 4 hours to complete
Get your car up on stands .
The stat is on the right of the car .... The only bad thing is that it's way down there and is easier to do from the bottom side of the car ... Remove the 2 bolts and reinstall ...about 4 hours to complete
I did mine in maybe 20 mins.
lol
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 847
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
Wasn't there recently a post about how to do the change with the new housing and not even loosing much fluid? I can't remember who posted it though. I thought maybe it was on Marks site but I looked and don't see it.
Anyone else remember the post/discussion?
Anyone else remember the post/discussion?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 847
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
Was one of Bills posts from a while ago; (and I had it bookmarked once I thought to look there.... DUH)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1547860417-post7.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1547860417-post7.html
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,811
Likes: 14
From: Lake Fork TEXAS
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles CA
just need to take off 2 bolts and T stat is off.
should take like 20~50min
If you never changed your water pump, I would suggest doing that also since its about 10years old,
Also, do a good system burping once you install your t-stat
should take like 20~50min
If you never changed your water pump, I would suggest doing that also since its about 10years old,
Also, do a good system burping once you install your t-stat
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
The way to do it without losing much antifreeze is to remove the thermostat housing that has the thermostat built in when it is cold and closed with the hose still attached, Hold the hose up high and install the new thermo and housing on the hose and then install the housing to the motor.