Thermostats & Housings

A Thermostat is designed to control how much coolant goes into the engine. A thermostat works by opening and closing depending on the temperature. When an engine is cold, and you are starting it up, the thermostat will be closed, as your engine temperature rises and you start driving your vehicle, the thermostat will open.

Consequently, if you are idling your vehicle to warm up, it is likely the thermostat will remain closed as it takes longer for the vehicle to reach the optimal operating temperature whilst idling. If you have a good thermostat, your thermostat will know when it is the right time to open due to the coolant temperature sensor, this knows and can detect the operating temperature.

Like most parts within your cooling system, correct functionality is important to ensure you have the proper operating temperature at all times when you are driving your vehicle. You don't want to be left in a disastrous situation due to your thermostat malfunctioning. An overheating engine can lead to a lack of coolant flow, leading to bigger issues such as a cracked cylinder head or a blown motor.

You may notice a number of different signs indicating replacement being imminent, these include:

• Air temperature changes - if you notice the air temperature drop or increase suddenly without changing the current HVAC settings, this indicates something wrong with your thermostat. If you notice your cooling and heating system spike, it is worthwhile getting your thermostat checked, and it may need replacing.
• Leaking coolant - if you have a faulty thermostat, it will often result in the thermostat closing off even whilst you are driving, which means no coolant flows through the engine. Usually, once your engine reaches its normal operating temperature, the thermostat will open and let the coolant flow through. If the thermostat doesn't open, this will mean the coolant will overflow from the thermostat housing. You may notice this via coolant being left on the road or alternatively if you notice the coolant levels decreasing.
• Temperature gauge higher or lower than usual - there are two different scenarios if the temperature gauge is higher than usual. This is usually an indication that the thermostat is stuck closed, which doesn't allow the coolant to run through the engine, therefore, the engine cannot cool down. If the thermostat is stuck open, the engine temperature drops, which indicates that the cooling system isn't working properly. The check engine light may also appear as the car drops below the normal operating temperature, especially during the colder months.

Thermostats will fluctuate in price depending on your vehicle. With this in mind, get in contact with our friendly staff, who will be able to provide you with a price or alternatively, get online using our handy rego search to find the correct thermostat and price for your vehicle. Whether it be in-store, online or over the phone, we are here to help.