Symptoms of a bad thermostat can be divided in two types: Thermostat stuck open: When the thermostat is stuck open,
the engine temperature drops below normal when driving
, especially on the highway in cold weather. A stuck-open thermostat can also cause lack of heat from the heating system.
What will a stuck open thermostat cause?
If the thermostat becomes stuck in the open position, there is
continuous flow of coolant into the radiator causing the engine to run cold
. Overcooled engines run inefficiently, which leads to increased fuel consumption and higher emission levels and engine parts enduring more wear.
When a cooling system thermostat fails to open it usually will?
Thermostats fail because
they become weak, stuck open or stuck closed
. When a thermostat is stuck open, coolant constantly circulates and the engine takes longer to reach operating temperature. This affects everything from performance to mileage to emissions and will ultimately take years off the engine's life.
What happens if you drive with a stuck open thermostat?
If you are driving your vehicle and the thermostat is stuck in the open position, it's definitely going to cause some problems for you. When
your thermostat is unable to properly close when it needs to, the flow of coolant will be unrestricted throughout your engine
.
What happens if my thermostat is stuck?
Your vehicle's thermostat opens to allow coolant to flow through the radiator and cool the engine down. However, if the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position,
the coolant can't flow through the radiator and can make your engine overheat
.
How do you know if your thermostat is stuck open?
- Low Engine Temperature. If your car is running unusually cool and not building up any heat in the engine, it's likely that your thermostat is stuck open and is letting too much coolant through. …
- No Heater. …
- Reduced Fuel Economy.
What causes a thermostat to fail?
Once the coolant engine reaches proper operating temperature, typically 180 to 200 degrees, the thermostat opens up and allows the coolant to flow through the engine. Sometimes the thermostat fails and must be replaced; there are four main reasons for failure:
overheating, sludge, defect and age
.
How do you unstick a thermostat?
- Park your car on a flat surface and have the emergency brake on.
- Wait until the morning or a few hours after driving. …
- Open your car hood after your car has had some time to cool off. …
- Find the thermostat. …
- Remove the radiator cap. …
- Have someone else start the car for you.
How do you know a thermostat is bad?
- Your HVAC Keeps Turning On or Off. …
- Faulty Thermostat Readings. …
- Suspiciously High Energy Bills. …
- Constant Temperature Shifts. …
- Thermostat Is Too Old. …
- Thermostat Fails to Respond to Changed Settings. …
- Your HVAC System Short Cycles.
What causes a car thermostat to stop working?
Still, a failing thermostat is not the only cause for an abnormal engine operating temperature. Other reasons include
low coolant level
, a bad water pump, a worn out or loose water pump belt, cooling system leaks, a clogged radiator, a failed radiator fan and a collapsed radiator hose.
Can a thermostat stay open?
Yes
, a thermostat that is stuck open is one of possible reasons why it may take too long for the engine to warm up. A low coolant level can also cause the same problem. In many modern cars, however, it's actually normal.
Can a car drive without a thermostat?
Most automobile mechanics will tell you it
is not a good idea to drive your car without a thermostat installed
. If your thermostat becomes stuck in the closed position, though, this will cause your engine to overheat and make driving your car impossible.
How long can you drive with thermostat stuck closed?
A vehicle can run
just fine
if the thermostat doesn't open. It will run on the warm side, not past halfway, and heat the interior just fine. But, when the weather gets warmer outside that thermostat stuck closed will not be able to allow the reservoir water flow and the vehicle will begin to have overheating issues.
Can a stuck thermostat fix itself?
Can a stuck thermostat fix itself? One may also ask, can a stuck thermostat fix itself?
You can either replace the valves with new ones or work the valves back into a position
where they can move up and down more freely. Replace the thermostat.
Can a bad thermostat cause coolant loss?
It's
possible that the thermostat isn't allowing the coolant to flow when it's stuck in the closed position
. … This can cause other hoses to leak as well as cause your vehicle's coolant to leak on the ground.
