Premier Auto Repair in Tyler, Texas is going to list the signs of a malfunctioning car thermostat below. The average lifespan of the factory thermostat is about 10 years. If you drive an older automobile and have never had the thermostat replaced, the following signs indicate that it’s time for this service.
Corrosion/Rust on the Thermostat Housing
The thermostat is the part in your vehicle’s cooling system that releases the coolant into the engine once it has determined that the engine’s temperature is on the rise. It uses a valve that it opens and closes to manage the coolant distribution. If you visually inspect your car’s thermostat and see that it is corroded or has rust on it, this is a sign that the thermostat valve is stuck in the closed position. When this happens, the coolant will slowly seep out of the thermostat and puddle around its metal housing. Consequently, you will end up with a rusted thermostat housing that is corroded by the coolant.
Leaking Engine Coolant on the Garage Floor
Unfortunately, if you do not realize that your thermostat is corroded, the rust will eventually eat through the metal housing. When this happens, you will end up with leaking engine coolant on the garage floor. You can check your coolant levels when the engine is cold to see if they are low. You can also verify the color of your engine coolant when the engine is cold to see if it matches the color of the fluid spots on your garage floor. Engine coolant comes in many different colors.
Erratic Engine Temperature Changes
If your engine temperature is changing erratically, the thermostat is malfunctioning and failing to release the coolant at the right time. Unfortunately, this can cause your engine to run too cold, to overheat, or to switch between the two. You will see the erratic temperature changes on your temperature gauge on the dashboard. Bring your vehicle to our shop right away if the engine temperature is not normal. If the engine is too hot, have the vehicle towed.
Constant and Quick Overheating
Finally, a sign that the thermostat is unable to read the engine’s temperature is if your automobile overheats quickly after you start it every time you drive it. This constant and quick overheating is a sign that the thermostat is not releasing the engine coolant into the engine.
Call Premier Auto Repair in Tyler, TX, today if you believe your car’s thermostat needs to be replaced. We will test the thermostat and install a new one if necessary.
