The thermostat is a crucial part of the car’s cooling system. The thermostat is responsible for ensuring that the combustion engine achieves and stays at the optimum operating temperature. See whether it’s time for a cooling system service by contacting experts on a car thermostat in New Orleans.
How does a car thermostat help regulate the engine temperature?
If the thermostat fails, the engine will overheat and malfunction. Your car’s performance will suffer as a result. The thermostat not only keeps an eye on the internal temperature of the engine but also prevents coolant from flowing to the radiator when things get too cold until the engine is nice and toasty.
5 Easy Steps to Replace a Car’s Thermostat in New Orleans
1. Wait for the engine to cool down if you drove recently
A serious burn might result from contact with the hot coolant that circulates through your engine while you drive. Give the car 30-60 minutes to cool down before attempting any repairs. Open the hood and feel around the engine for warmth to see whether it needs to be serviced in New Orleans.
- You should never attempt maintenance on a running car.
- If you want to cool your engine down quicker, you should leave the hood open.
2. Take the cap off of your radiator
Find the tall black box beneath the hood and in front of the engine compartment, just behind the grille. This is your radiator. Locate the radiator’s top cap—its round knob—and loosen it by rotating it counterclockwise. Don’t lose track of the hat by keeping it on your person while you work.
- Whenever possible, avoid opening the radiator cap while the engine is still hot. If the pressure in the radiator has built up, releasing it might cause a spray of hot coolant.
- Before unscrewing the radiator cap, go out and get a new one if you see coolant seeping out of the old one.
3. Put a drip pan underneath your radiator’s drain plug
Find a little plastic wingnut or plug at the radiator’s bottom by looking beneath your car. Put a drip pan beneath the plug to catch any coolant that may leak out while you’re working.
- A drip pan may be purchased from any parts shop that caters to the motor industry. A bucket will do in the absence of a drip pan.
- If you can’t reach under your car to locate the drain plug, you may need to raise it on supports.
4. Drain half of the coolant out from your radiator’s drain valve
If your radiator is leaking coolant, turn the drain plug counterclockwise until the leak stops. Look inside the radiator to see whether the coolant levels are enough. Once half of the coolant has drained from the plug, turn it clockwise to tighten it again; this is all the coolant that has to be drained to expose the thermostat.
- All of the coolant in your car is not something you should drain.
- You can reuse the coolant you drained, so don’t throw it away.
- Radiator flushing may be necessary if dirt or other debris has made its way into your coolant.
5. Unbolt the thermostat housing from the engine block with a ratchet
Use a ratchet to loosen the thermostat housing bolts from the engine block. Find the pipe that runs from the top of your radiator to the side of your engine. The thermostat will be housed in the hose fitting near the engine.
You need to use a ratchet to loosen the two bolts on each side of the housing’s flange by turning them counterclockwise.
- Although it is not required, you may choose to unclamp the radiator hose in order to have access to the housing bolts.
- Similarly, if the housing has any dings or pits, it has to be replaced.
What is the average lifespan of a car thermostat in New Orleans?
The radiator in your car could quit working at any moment. However, technicians in New Orleans advise getting a new thermostat for your car every 10 years. But that’s an optimistic estimate, all things considered. The lifespan of a thermostat is often substantially less than a decade.
Tough weather, severe driving, or the defective engine or thermostat components may all lead to an early failure of the thermostat. If the thermostat stops working properly, you should get it serviced at a trusted auto repair shop in New Orleans as soon as possible, if not replace it altogether.
Don’t Wait to Repair Your Car’s Thermostat in New Orleans
The thermostat may be little, but it packs a powerful punch. If you want to keep your engine at a healthy temperature, you need to check the thermostat. Don’t wait to have a professional in New Orleans take a look at your car if it’s giving you warning signs about the engine temperature. If you ignore the warning signs that your thermostat is failing, you may end up causing irreparable damage to your engine, which will need expensive and time-consuming repairs.