how to test the thermostat?

[twaiter]

guys is their an easy way to test the thermostat if its open or closed? ive been reading alot about these latley and them being stuck open, and it was only when i was on the motorway comming to work i noticed my temp gauge still on the bottom and ive not noticed it being up at normal for a while but i just thought it was the cold weather, hence the question,..

if it does need replaced its gonna have to wait a while cause ive got no cash! so i just wanna know if it can be tested first?

[Mogsy007]

A way to test them is to put them in hot water (80 degrees plus) and see if it moves.

[twaiter]

does it cause a problem to be driving with a damaged one mate?

[Das]

Not sure how to test them these days as when they fail they fail in the open position. Only way I can think of without removing the thermostat is to pull the top hose from the radiator and take the cap off the header tank and the stick a garden hose in the header tank and turn on the hose. If water comes out of the top hose from the engine side the thermostat is wide open, if it doesnt its ok. Mind you you will have to then replace the antifreeze. tbh from the sound of it yours is away too, just like the rest of ours was.

[twaiter]

its jsut a nightmare, everything is going wrong with her just now! i think its just gonna have to stay like this for a while untill i get the money to sort it, i'll need to get a garage to do it as im not overly confident win the whole process.

[diesel dog]

does it cause a problem to be driving with a damaged one mate?

You may be using more fuel or overfuelling, which in extreme cases can lead to 'bore wash'.

If the ECU is getting information from the coolant temp sensor to say that the engine hasn't yet fully warmed up, then it will instruct the HP pump to continue fuelling the engine for that particular coolant temperature. Since the temp guage doesn't seem to be registering at all, and only reads from 70 degrees C upwards, it's difficult to know how bad the situation is.

[Homer]

You may be using more fuel or overfuelling, which in extreme cases can lead to 'bore wash'.

If the ECU is getting information from the coolant temp sensor to say that the engine hasn't yet fully warmed up, then it will instruct the HP pump to continue fuelling the engine for that particular coolant temperature. Since the temp guage doesn't seem to be registering at all, and only reads from 70 degrees C upwards, it's difficult to know how bad the situation is.

If you have the 3 line display (or better) you can press and hold settings for 10 seconds until you hear a beep, and then press BC until you get to a page with

SENS
V
T

T is your coolant temp

[diesel dog]

Very cool! But not on the pre-facelifts?

[GazVXLINE170]

Mines has been running cold for 3 years, no problems yet except the time taking to heat up.

Gazza4

[AntSSSS]

Mines has been running cold for 3 years, no problems yet except the time taking to heat up.

Gazza4

It will not run the correct fueling mate - your MPG will be down if only a little..

if the car is not warming to mid 80's - change the stat.. Simple..