How To Replace a Thermostat
Items
Materials
- New Thermostat
- Thermostat Gasket or Seal
- Coolant
Tools
- Socket Set
- Drain Pan
Steps
Drain Portion of Coolant
Drain at least 50% of the coolant to avoid spills
Remove The Thermostat
Unbolt the thermostat housing from the engine block. Be very careful not to damage the housing as it is generally made from aluminium or a similar fragile material.
Remove the thermostat
Install the new thermostat
Check the new thermostat to ensure that the part number is the same as the one you have removed.
Inspect the mounting surface on both the thermostat and engine block. Remove any material with a sharp blade to ensure a good seal.
Fit the new thermostat, ensuring the air bleed hole is in the correct position. Check the thermostat is fully seated in its groove.
Fit the correct type of gasket for the vehicle you are working on.
Carefully refit the thermostat housing to the engine block and bolt it into place.
Refill the cooling system
Refill the system with coolant. Run the engine to circulate the coolant and remove any air trapped in the system. Check that the temperature indicator gauge shows the coolant temperature is in the normal operational range. Top up the radiator or reservoir with coolant if necessary.
Tips
- Ensure the thermostat is fully seated in the groove and stays there before fitting the housing – failure to do so will damage the new thermostat and possibly break the housing
- Use the workshop manual procedure to properly bleed all air from the cooling system
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