DIY Car Care: Summertime Thermostat Advice

If your vehicle experiences overheating issues in the summer, fix the root cause (water pump, clogged radiator, inoperative cooling fans, bum fan relay, etc.) instead of masking the symptoms with a lower temperature thermostat.

thermostat
My DIY friends sometimes inquire me if they should install a "summertime" thermostat in their vehicle (or remove the thermostat birthday) to assist it run cooler in hot atmospheric condition. My answer is always the same—admittedly not! When you start up a cold engine, the estimator immediately checks the engine coolant and exterior air temperature sensors and ignores the readings from the oxygen sensors. This is chosen "open up loop," and it's the to the lowest degree efficient in terms of gas mileage and emissions. That's why carmakers want the engine to heat up to full operating temperature every bit apace as possible. So most install a 195-degree thermostat at the factory and program the computer to switch over to the more fuel-efficient "closed loop" fashion when information technology reaches that temperature. If you remove the thermostat or install a lower "summer" thermostat (180 degrees), the estimator will never become into "closed loop." Your vehicle won't run well and will suffer poor gas mileage. The richer than normal fuel mixtures can also crusade damage to the very expensive catalytic converter under your vehicle.

And so if your vehicle experiences overheating problems in the summer, ready the root crusade (water pump, clogged radiator, inoperative cooling fans, bum fan relay, etc.) instead of masking the symptoms with a lower temperature thermostat. If y'all've already pulled out the thermostat, turn information technology over and check the temperature stamped into the lesser of the copper pellet. And then cheque with the parts shop to run into what temperature thermostat your engine requires.

— Rick Muscoplat, Automotive Editor

Got an engine overheating problem? Click here for tips on finding the cause: http://www.aa1car.com/library/overheat.htm

Likewise, see the following sections on FamilyHandyman.com for useful motorcar intendance communication:

– Auto Maintenance

– Auto Repair

Originally Published: March 01, 2016