How to check a car thermostat yourself

Many people hear about the thermostat in the car, but most of them do not know its use, its usefulness in the car, nor how to check it. Through this article, we will know what the thermostat is, its function in the engine, and how it works.

The thermostat is part of the engine cooling system. It has a very important and pivotal function. The thermostat is located in the engine water outlet pipe towards the radiator.
It is a valve that controls the passage of water at a certain temperature, which in most cars is 80 or 90 degrees.

How the thermostat works:

When the engine is started, the car is cold and the cooling water is also cold. In this case, the cooling water cycle is closed and the water does not go out to the radiator except when the water temperature in the engine reaches a certain temperature as mentioned before, when the temperature reaches 90 degrees, for example. After a period of engine operation, the thermostat gradually opens and allows water to pass from the engine to the radiator. The water in the radiator is cooled through the cooling fan that works mechanically or electrically, then the water returns again while it is cold to the engine until it is cooled, which works to maintain engine performance.

Some mistakes that car owners make:-

Most car users remove the thermostat from the engine permanently, believing that they improve the performance of the engine, but this affects the performance of the engine greatly. The lack of it makes the cooling water pass before reaching the operating temperature, which affects the performance of the engine as well, as the engine must reach a certain temperature to operate efficiently.

Signs of damage to the thermostat inside the car:-

There are several signs that the thermostat is damaged, including:

• Suddenly, the engine temperature rises above the normal range. This happens due to the damage of the thermostat valve in the car, which does not allow water to pass inside the engine and the temperature of the engine parts increases.
• The engine temperature is lower than normal, this is caused by the failure of the thermostat gate in the open position. This allows water to enter too much into the engine, which leads to an overheating of the engine.

How to check the car thermostat yourself:-

If one of the above signs occurs, the thermostat should be checked to see if it needs replacing or repairing.

• First: You must bring a metal pot, then add a quantity of water inside it, and put the pot on the fire until its temperature rises without reaching the boiling point.
• Second: Put the thermostat to be tested in hot water and monitor the work of the thermostat. If it is good, it will open gradually as the temperature rises until it is fully opened at the temperature at which it was made, but if it remains closed, this indicates a problem and the thermostat must be completely changed and not canceled.