Coolant Thermostat Replacement

[LKJ0404]

Hi all,
I’ve got a 2018 Honda Civic LX 2.0L, 6-speed manual, 101k miles. Recently threw a P0128 code. From what I gather, that usually means the thermostat is stuck open and the engine isn’t reaching temp.


I do most of my own work, and this looks like an easy swap while I do a coolant drain/fill. My question:

• OEM thermostat + O-ring is ~$110
• Duralast (AutoZone) is about ~$50

Is OEM worth the extra $$ here, or is aftermarket fine? And if aftermarket, is there a better brand to go with?


Thanks!

 

[Nukeman7]

Only use OEM thermostats on Hondas or you will be doing the job again. $110 seems pretty steep, even for Honda.

 

[LKJ0404]

Only use OEM thermostats on Hondas or you will be doing the job again. $110 seems pretty steep, even for Honda.

Thanks! I've seen other threads saying the same thing. Here is the Honda part number I found: 19310-5A2-A02. You're right, it is $98 and comes with the O ring (don't need to buy it separately). I can save about $10 if I buy it from a Honda OEM online retailer.

 

[rijndael]

The OEM thermostat & housing is about $80 at some of the Honda parts houses, online.

I wouldn’t go aftermarket.

 

[SOHCman]

OEM only on something so critical as a engine thermostat, they really are made better.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Get the OEM thermostat. If Aisin offers an aftermarket thermostat for your Civic, that is a good choice, too. Second choice would be Calorstat or Beck/Arnley.

 

[doitmyself]

Couldn't the sensor be bad also??

 

[kschachn]

Partsgeek has the OEM Tama for $30.

 

[grasscutter]

Oh gosh man. The one lesson I learned a long time ago is never trust an aftermarket thermostat.

Having said that, it's hard for me to recommend spending $110 for a thermostat.

 

[Marcozi]

As we say in the BMW arena, "The installation of aftermarket cooling parts is strictly verboten." Fix it once and sleep well at night.

 

[LKJ0404]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments! I found them all super helpful. Based on the responses, I'll bite the bullet and do OEM. The cheapest online OEM retailer after shipping and taxes that I found was hondacarpartsdirect.com. Out the door for $76. I'm new to shopping OEM online, is this as good as a deal as I'll find?

 

[Exhaustgases]

And check it before installing it.

 

[LKJ0404]

And check it before installing it.

I used the part number from honda garage and the website lets you verify the fit using your VIN. Seems right to me, but that isn't saying much haha

 

[Exhaustgases]

I used the part number from honda garage and the website lets you verify the fit using your VIN. Seems right to me, but that isn't saying much haha

No part number needed to check it before installing, just some nice hot water and a thermometer.

 

[LKJ0404]

No part number needed to check it before installing, just some nice hot water and a thermometer.

Ahh my fault! Forgive my ignorance haha. Thank you for the clarification. That makes a lot of sense!

 

[Chris142]

The AutoZone one is most likely made by Motorad...... You don't want that thing.

 

[D60]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments! I found them all super helpful. Based on the responses, I'll bite the bullet and do OEM. The cheapest online OEM retailer after shipping and taxes that I found was hondacarpartsdirect.com. Out the door for $76. I'm new to shopping OEM online, is this as good as a deal as I'll find?

This is what I can tell you based on limited experience, and I eventually get around to the vendor mentioned above:

I recently needed struts for a '10 Accord Crosstour. I first ordered at hondapartsnow.com. According to their online inventory, they had one bare strut and one quick strut. Yes, the forums claim (correctly) that the quick struts have been long since discontinued, but their website clearly said IN STOCK so I just figured it was NOS sitting on a shelf.

Well, after a couple days the brain trusts at hondapartsnow (misnomer) email to say they don't have the quick strut. I reply with fine, send me two bare struts. Well, they can't change an order -- I have to cancel and reorder. Cool, I cancel and am definitely not using them again. Morons.

Next I found hondacarpartsdirect.com (you wondered where I was going with this rant, didn't you?). The website claims they have two bare struts IN STOCK.

Once I order I keep getting emails saying essentially they're waiting to receive the parts at their warehouse and once they do, they'll ship 'em to me.

Now, maybe I'm just not good with the English language, but I thought IN STOCK meant something different.

Anyway, I eventually received the parts but what a hassle. It left a bad taste in my mouth for obtaining OEM Honda stuff. People wonder why Rock Auto has an appeal, and this is a big part of it.

Also, it's not lost on me that it's possible all these websites are just one or two companies with different domain names.

edit: also if @The Critic can tell me what I did wrong and how to better speak Honda to the seemingly tightly controlled OEM Honda organized crime ring, I'll take notes. Do I need to offer a reach around to them or something? Protection money?? Something else?

 

[zzyzzx]

Anything that's not a Motorad or reboxed Motorad is going to work fine.

 

[Nukeman7]

Anything that's not a Motorad or reboxed Motorad is going to work fine.

Based upon the bad reputation that Motorad thermostats have on BITOG (and other forums), I have never purchased one of their thermostats. However, I recently had to grab a Duralast radiator cap from a local Autozone for a Honda because of a sudden failure of the OEM cap. The Duralast cap turned out to be a reboxed Motorad part.

It appears to fit and function correctly; however, are Motorad radiator caps OK to use?

 

[zzyzzx]

are Motorad radiator caps OK to use?

Yes.