thermostat?
the temperature gauge goes up to the middle (straight up) once the car heats, then once I turn the fan on for the heat it backs down to the left and stops halfway between 100 and 210. Is this normal or does the thermostat need to be replaced?
My car has 213000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It is not uncommon for the temperature gauge to drop when the heater is switched on, especially in colder situations (below 40 degrees f). The thermostat should be able to control the engine temperature in a way that you should be able to still get hot air into the cabin when the heater is engaged. I usually suggest that as long as the heat coming into the cabin is sufficient to keep you warm, I wouldn’t normally worry about the lower temperature on the gauge. If the air coming out of the vents isn’t getting warm enough though, I would try changing the thermostat. If this is something that still worries you, and you feel that you could use a hand in diagnosing or repairing it, I would suggest consulting a certified mechanic, like those available at YourMechanic.com.
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Ideally, your engine should operate at 180°F to make the most power. The temperature-sending unit can be located in the cylinder head or in the intake manifold.
Does turning up the thermostat make the room warmer? The common belief is that turning up the thermostat will make the room warmer faster. However, this is not the case. When you keep the temperature set to a higher setting, the only thing that will happen is that your heating system will run for longer.
In most cars the thermostat is placed under a housing near the water pump on the cylinder head ; the housing is connected directly to the top radiator hose . In a few cars the thermostat is housed near the bottom hose. Test the thermostat quickly by starting the engine from cold.
A 180-degree thermostat is better for engine efficiency—aka better fuel mileage and decreased emissions. A 160-degree thermostat is designed to maintain a lower engine operating temperature, which tends to make a little bit more horsepower and torque.
What temp should a Chevy transmission be? A Chevy trans temp should be around 176 to 189 degrees f. If a trans temp is much hotter than that you have a problem. The maximum temperature before damage will occur is 215 degrees f.
One of the biggest misconception homeowners have about their central air system is that a lower number on the thermostat indicates colder air. This is technically untrue. If you find yourself asking, “does a lower thermostat cool my home more quickly,” we can answer that for you.
Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you`re awake at home but recommends lowering it while you`re asleep or away. Lowering your thermostat 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce your annual heating expenses by as much as 10 percent.
The thermostat is like a valve that opens and closes as a function of its temperature. The thermostat isolates the engine from the radiator until it has reached a certain minimum temperature. Without a thermostat, the engine would always lose heat to the radiator and take longer to warm up.
A malfunctioning thermostat, no matter what kind it is, can cause a number of problems for your heater, ultimately hurting its effectiveness and efficiency. For instance, a thermostat sending incorrect signals—or no signals at all—can result in a heater that won`t even start up.
Most car thermostats are rated to begin opening between 180 and 195 degrees and will reach the fully open position around 20 degrees higher, allowing coolant to flow between the radiator and engine.
You can save energy and keep your costs in check by keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime. Energy.gov reports that turning your thermostat lower by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours per day will help you see an energy usage reduction of 5 to 15 percent per year on your bill.
For example, a 180 degree thermostat begins to open within three degrees of 180, so 177 to 183. By 200 degrees, the thermostat is fully opened. The operation of the thermostat, open to close, is a range of about 20 degrees, so with different temp ratings, you can fine-tune the run temp of your vehicle.
Here`s the thing, though – just like an engine can run too hot, it can also run too cold. As it turns out, every engine has its optimal working temperature that revolves around 200F, give or take. Every engine is different in this regard. Some work at temps closer to 100C, others work at much colder temps.
For most cars, the normal operating engine temperature is in a range of 195 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, though most dashboard temperature gauges don`t show an exact temperature.
What Is a Typical Thermostat Setting? A typical thermostat setting is between 68° and 76°. Where you choose to set your thermostat might depend on the season as well as your own personal preferences.
The top number shows the current “set” temperature, or what your thermostat has been set to by you or someone else (such as an automatic setting). The bottom number indicates the actual room`s ambient air temperature. To change your heating and cooling settings, use the arrows on the display.
On the other hand the lower the set temp will be the colder the room will be. So as for the question 16 deg will be cold, compared to 30deg C.
An upgraded thermostat will help your entire HVAC system run more efficiently. The more efficient your HVAC system runs, the less wear and tear it suffers, leading to a longer lifespan and less time and money spent on repairs.
If you lower the thermostat so it`s set more than 20° lower than the current outside temperature, the AC won`t be able to reach its target temperature. Instead, it will run and run, wasting larger amounts of energy and wearing down, possibly leading to it overheating and shutting down.
Low Temperature Thermostats
With a low temperature thermostat the coolant is released to flow more freely. This helps delay or even prevent high temperature spikes when the engine is under higher loads. Can be used to reduce the risk of overheating or poor performance as a result of high engine temperatures.
Thermostats monitor the temperature in your home and send signals to the HVAC system to adjust the heat or air conditioner to your desired settings. It`s crucial to have proper thermostat placement to ensure accurate readings and optimal comfort. So, does thermostat placement matter? The answer is yes.
Outside the home and in the office setting, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration recommends temperatures between 68 and 76 degrees and humidity control in the range of 20%-60%.
It would always be around 182 to 187.
Once the temperature of the coolant rises to between 180 and 195 F (82 – 91 C), the thermostat starts to open, allowing fluid to flow through the radiator. By the time the coolant reaches 200 to 218 F (93 – 103 C), the thermostat is open all the way.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
engine light on for thermostat or temp sensor, EVIC falsely states engine hot due to bad thermostat, also service throttle control
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing more than one issue. It is indeed true that the thermostat and coolant sensors are built into a housing, which will require replacement of the entire housing to replace the thermostat. The sensors can, however, be removed and reused. If there is a message displayed that the engine is overheating then that could signify that the coolant temperature sensor is bad, or that the engine is actually overheating, perhaps due to a stuck thermostat. Removing the thermostat does not require removal of the cylinder head, however it does require a few components be removed in order to access the housing. If there is a message also being displayed for the throttle control system, then it is likely that the computer has detected an issue that needs to be addressed. Perhaps a fault with the throttle body unit or circuit. As it appears that your vehicle may be experiencing more than one issue, I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, visit your location, to diagnose what may be causing the issues.
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Does the replacement of a thermostat include replacing the housing? I was told I needed to replace the thermostat housing.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. The thermostat housing and the thermostat itself are two different components and do not necessarily need to be replaced together or at the same time. The housing is just a piece that covers the thermostat that also has an opening for a radiator hose which is where the water enters and exits the motor. The housing may need to be replaced at times if it is cracked or leaks severely, however they are indeed two different and distinct pieces.
Hope this helps and best of luck.
Read Full Q/A … : thermostat?
we are trying to replace thermostat but manual is not showing the location of the thermostat and every videos shoe wrong engine
ANSWER : Trace the top radiator hose back to the engine. The top radiator hose will be connected to (or near) the thermostat housing. On the 2.0 engine, look for a plastic housing with multiple hose connections just to the left of the battery. You can request engine cooling thermostat and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : thermostat?
Car diagnoses says bad thermostat and shop said they had to replace the whole housing system as it isn’t separate
ANSWER : I have verified that the thermostat is only replaced with the housing since the housing and thermostat are built together and not sold or replaced separately.
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My 03 745 li is over heating I changed thermostat and thermostat housing my car idols for five minutes and message comes on overhe
ANSWER : There may be trapped air in the cooling system. Air can get trapped if you drain coolant and then refill the system without purging. Trapped air can cause overheating by blocking coolant flow and can also faulty heater operation. Other common causes of overheating include low coolant level, a faulty thermostat, a plugged radiator, a faulty radiator pressure cap, collapsed hoses, non functioning cooling fans, and a faulty water pump or drive belt. Certain engine faults, such as a leaking head gasket, poor engine running condition, and exhaust blockages can also cause overheating. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an engine overheating diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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I have an engine code on a 2009 Lincoln Town Car that indicates a bad thermostat sensor or thermostat. Is this time critical to ge
ANSWER : If the engine does not get to operating temperature in a certain amount of time the computer will set a code after two complete drive cycles doing the same thing. This is an indication that the thermostat is stuck partly open or opens too soon and the engine either heats up too slow or gets too hot before thermostat opens. I would recommend replacing the thermostat and coolant sensor at the same time. Have a mechanic like one from YourMechanic install the parts for you and service the cooling system.
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Temperature spiking up after I changed my thermostat trying to get my heater to work.
ANSWER : The heater not working in some cases may be related to the overheating problem you are also having. This may be due to a faulty heater blower motor or potentially a bad heater core. As you know, the heater core is a small radiator like unit that circulates the hot coolant from the engine through the heater core which then uses this warm coolant to heat the inside of the car with the help of the blower motor that blows the warm air through the vents inside the car. When the cooling system is not properly circulating coolant through the motor, this results in the warm coolant not being pumped through the heater core properly in order to warm the inside of the vehicle.
Engine overheating can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a failing coolant fan switch. As you may know the coolant fan switch helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature by turning on and off at specific temperature thresholds. When this switch is not working properly, this can cause the fans to come on intermittently, all the time or sometimes not at all. When this happens you will notice a temperature spike and drop occasionally as the fan comes on and off. When your thermostat is not working properly or is stuck closed, this will not allow the coolant to properly circulate through the engine, which may cause the engine temperature to fluctuate erratically or in some cases just remain hot. As mentioned above, this also restricts the warm coolant from flowing through the heater core which uses this to blow warm air into the cab of the vehicle. I would suggest having an expert from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose your cooling system.
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Can a blown head gasket cause a map controlled thermostat not to open?
ANSWER : Hi there. Although a blown head gasket can cause multiple systems to fail throughout the vehicle, is less than likely that it would impact the operation of the thermostat on the radiator. However, it is quite possible that when the original overheating issue that likely caused the head gasket failure occurred, several electrical harnesses or sensors that control and monitor these components may have been damaged. Coolant can overflow for many reasons, but typically it’s due to having coolant that is not thinned down to the recommended 50/50 ratio of coolant to distilled water when adding coolant to the radiator.
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