What Does a Thermostat Do?
As part of the car's cooling system, the thermostat is the only device that does not cool things off. The
thermostats main function is to regulate the engine's operating temperature. The thermostat blocks the flow of coolant to the radiator until the engine has warmed up.
Once the engine reaches its operating temperature, the thermostat allows the liquid to pass through
to the
radiator. By allowing the engine to heat up quickly, the thermostat is crucial for reducing engine wear and emissions.
The thermostat is a metal, heat sensitive valve and about 2 inches in diameter. It is usually located where the upper
radiator hose meets the top of the engine.
How Does a Thermostat Work?
A thermostat is a closed valve, held shut by spring tension. Once the
coolant
gets hot, a wax filled element in the upper part of the thermostat opens the valve. The heat melts the wax and expands it, that pushes the valve open.
The thermostat is fully open at 20F above the rated temperature. As soon as the coolant temperature
decreases, the wax cools off and contracts, allowing the valve to close.
The thermostat ensures a constant operating temperature of the engine by open and shut the
coolant circuit.
Why Do Thermostats Fail?
If the wax element inside the thermostat has been damaged by previous overheating, age, or corrosion, the valve won't open properly. This will keep the heated liquid from reaching the radiator and will cause overheating.
A
thermostat can also fail to close, which happens if the sensing element binds up, the spring breaks, or
dirt particles block the valve. Coolant will constantly run through the thermostat and prevents the engine from operating with a normal temperature.
A high fuel consumption, little or no heater output, and increasing cylinder wear are the main indicators for a malfunctioning thermostat.
Common Thermostat Components
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