Automotive thermostats control the temperature of an engine by regulating the flow of coolant through the radiator. The thermostat resides inside the thermostat housing, sometimes referred to as a water neck. The thermostat housing is near the top of the engine, and connects to the upper radiator hose. The installation method varies slightly with the make and model of vehicle; the following procedure is typical.
Instructions
- 1
Drain coolant from the radiator. Place the drain pan beneath the radiator petcock, and turn the petcock clockwise by hand to open. You don't need to drain the radiator completely; about half way is fine.
2Using the screwdriver, loosen the hose clamp that holds the upper radiator hose to the thermostat housing, and pull the hose off.
3Remove the two bolts from the thermostat housing, and pull the housing off. If necessary, pry with the screwdriver. Lift the old thermostat out and discard.
4Scrape the old gasket off the thermostat housing using the putty knife.
5Place a new thermostat on the engine. Surround it with a new gasket, taking care to line up the bolt holes.
6Set the thermostat housing in place over the thermostat. Apply pipe joint compound or silicone sealant to the bolt threads, and thread the bolts in. Tighten to finger tight plus turn.
7Reattach the upper radiator hose. Tighten the hose clamp in place.
8Close the radiator petcock. Refill the radiator with coolant.
9Start the engine and check for leaks.
