We mentioned a few blog posts back that a faulty water pump is no match for J&M Auto Service. Well, a faulty thermostat is no match for us either. We can replace your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s thermostat in no time, and get you back on the road with the engine’s temperature running at normal no matter how much you drive your automobile. We are going to list the signs of a bad thermostat below so you know what to look for with your vehicle.
Corroded Housing
The factory thermostat is designed to last 100,000 miles or 10 years. After this time, it may start to experience problems such as leaking slowly. When the thermostat leaks slowly, the coolant pools around the thermostat’s metal housing and corrodes it. This slow leak is hard to detect unless you inspect the thermostat and see the corrosion on the housing. If left unrepaired, the coolant will feast off the housing metal and cause an even larger coolant leak.
Coolant Leak
When this happens, you may see coolant puddles when you back out of the garage. At this point, the leak is severe enough to reduce the coolant level in the engine, and this can cause temperature problems. Even if you add coolant to the cooling system, it will leak out of the leaking thermostat. As such, we recommend that you avoid driving your automobile if it starts to run too hot. Operating the vehicle can cause engine damage.
Odd Temperatures
The thermostat can also start to malfunction when it gets too old. When this happens, you may notice that the needle on the temperature gauge is moving up and down. This means that the thermostat is releasing the coolant into the engine in spurts. This can create a huge temperature problem. Your car’s engine may fluctuate between running too hot and running too cold while you are driving it. Fluctuating and odd temperatures are definitely a sign that the thermostat needs to be replaced.
Overheating Engine
Finally, a faulty thermostat may never release the coolant into the engine. When this happens, your engine will get too hot very quickly once you start driving your automobile. Again, an overheated engine can cause engine damage, including severe damage such as a cracked engine block. If your engine is overheating, have your vehicle towed to our shop.
J&M Auto Service in Tea, SD, can replace your car’s thermostat when it needs it. Give us a call today.