Swapping out the factory thermostat for a 180-degree thermostat helps improve the operating efficiency of a high-horsepower engine. The thermostat allows more fluid to flow through the engine, thus lowering the length of time the auxiliary fan must operate and allowing the engine to take advantage of power sapped away by the fan. This is important to anyone who wants to "hot-rod" his car or who has added horsepower through engine modifications.
Instructions
- 1
Trace the upper radiator hose to where it connects on the intake manifold. The metal housing the hose connects to is called the water inlet. Remove the clamp that secures the hose to the water inlet. Squeeze the two compression tabs together with pliers to loose the clip's hold on the hose. Pull the hose off the water inlet. Lift the hose vertically to drain the fluid back into the radiator.
2Remove the two bolts that secure the water inlet to the intake manifold. With the bolts removed, lift the water inlet from the intake. Inspect the bottom of the water inlet for the thermostat gasket. If it is on the bottom, scrape it off with a razor blade. If the gasket is not on the bottom of the water inlet, inspect the top of the intake manifold. Scrape the gasket off the intake manifold with a razor blade.
3Lift the old thermostat out of the intake manifold and put the 180-degree thermostat in place. One end of the thermostat will be marked as the top. That end will protrude from the intake manifold.
4Place the new thermostat gasket onto the intake manifold and line it up with the bolt holes that secure the water inlet.
5Place the water inlet back on the intake manifold and bolt it into place.
6Slide the radiator hose onto the water inlet and secure it with the clamp.
