Replacing Thermostat

[doodie]

I just bought a new thermostat from autozone and I bought a gasket too. But I have a question, if I take out my thermostat and the gasket seems okay, can I reuse it?

 

[TSI_Pat]

gasket is cheap, just replace it since you bought one and put some RTV sealant on it too for good measure

 

[K Dan]

Doesn't a new thermostat come with a new gasket? might be a good idea to test/replace the radiator cap too

 

[90talon_Casum]

Originally posted by K Dan
Doesn't a new thermostat come with a new gasket? might be a good idea to test/replace the radiator cap too

Mine didn't, so i don't think so.. but maybe at some places.

 

[doodie]

Also, I'd like to add that this is a 170 degree thermostat. Did I just buy the wrong one? The person at autozone told me that this was the right one that showed up on the computer....

 

[doodie]

This gasket is nowhere near cheap. It was $8 for a flimsy little piece of plastic rubber band...

 

[doodie]

Okay, I've just read a buttload of archives but I couldn't really get myself to answer this question.

If I do end up putting in this 170 degree thermostat in my car, wouldn't I be still throwing the same code? Since I'll be running 170 degrees, I will never or take too long to get to operating temperature to run close loop(like my car is right now).

 

[Defiant]

Take it back and get a 190°F.

 

[sweet97]

MY CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER, WOULDN'T A 160 DEGREE STAT HELP THE CAR'S ENGINE RUN CLOOER?
aLSO HAS ANYONE FOUND A WAY TO RUN COLD AIR TO THE FILTER? ONCE MY MAF AND RANSLATOR ARE RUNNING PERHAPS I CAN FIND A WAY TOPLACE THE AIR FILTER BEFORE THE RADIATOR OR FIND A WAY TO RUN COOL AIR TO THE FILTER. MS

 

[Defiant]

MY CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY IN THE SUMMER, WOULDN'T A 160 DEGREE STAT HELP THE CAR'S ENGINE RUN CLOOER?

A thermostat is for warming up an engine, and keeping it warm in cold weather. DSMs want to run around 190°~210°F, which is why they come with a 195° thermostat. It's where the ECU wants to see the engine running, it's the temperature that the parts fit together best.

Your car doesn't have a watch. It doesn't know what time is. Some of the rubber parts can tell, but the iron, steel and aluminum will be happy together so long as the lubricants and fuel are available for them.

 

[SpyderDude]

I'm actually currently running the 170 from AutoZone and my car still gets great gas mileage and doesn’t act like it’s stuck in any type of warm up mode. The only thing different that I notice is that the fans don't come on nearly as often but I think that would be expected.

Does anyone know the actual temperature that the computer looks for to get out of its warm up cycle, maybe someone with a dsmlink or a factory maintenance manual could help answer this question?

It might sound strange but the same day that I changed my thermostat to the 170 degree unit the car felt a bit stronger but it could have also been my old thermostat was just crap.

 

[DSMvroom]

Take it back and get a 190°F.

Agreed.

 

[sweet97]

Funny, Defiant quotes one of my first posts, IN CAPS, and didn'tchew me out! The caps do look strange. I believe he gave the approximate range the motor is designed to run in. I at one time was a big proponent of cooler thermostats, going as low as 160* on my Conquest.
It would be nice to have my car feel more power with a stat change,heck I don't feel most of my mods singularly but the combo is better. Truthfully mine feels stronger after a good wash! I'm getting a motor done and will go with the 195*. I will work to keep the engine bay cooler itself. Any hoods available with a big scoop? mark

 

[Talesin]

I still have to replace my thermo.. haven't had time, with work. I'm still figuring that the thermo's dead (or the wrong temperature range), given that my temp gauge stays incredibly, stupidly low. Or the gauge is dead. Or if the gauge is ECU-controlled (like boost), that I'll have to pull that out next and have a look inside to check the caps.
f that's a wrong-temp thermo or just an old one that gave out, I don't know... but adding on the overflow a few minutes after I've topped up the fluids and started the engine, it could also be a radiator cap on top of it. Bah.

 

[RamenPride]

2G thermostat is 180, doesn't come with a gasket (in most cases). that gasket itself is like $5 and is basically a rubber ring that goes around the t-stat. theres no need for RTV, there is no gasket for the two halves of the thermostat housing because the gasket on the thermostat is the gasket..

the fans don't kick in until 210 (so I've read)

 

[John Yen]

I am trying to replace my thermostat but am not sure where it is. Is it under the hose line that goes to the engine? 2 bolts? Any pics to show me were.
Thanks, John

 

[OverboostGSX]

Make sure you place a suitable container under that area to catch any falling coolant. It helps to have a rag or old t-shirt handy in order to place under the opening as well. As mentioned above the thermostat is not shown correctly in the above picture. Run your hand up the lower radiator hose towards the block (when cool) and you'll find the correct housing. Best of luck.

Answer for above, not sure about the 1G but that is not where it is located on a 95 turbo.