Who Makes The Best Thermostat For Cooling System ?

[ltslimjim]

Yeh, the 82C is also referenced as the factory specified thermostat temp. I've seen other brands claiming that the lower temp spec'd stat was 'original' as well.

Easy way to solve this is to grab one from the dealership.

I wonder how soon before I should change the one in this car? Is there a recommended Preventative Maintenance on replacing one???

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Yeh, the 82C is also referenced as the factory specified thermostat temp. I've seen other brands claiming that the lower temp spec'd stat was 'original' as well.

But there's only ONE correct one for YOUR engine. The other one is NOT for YOUR engine.

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Easy way to solve this is to grab one from the dealership.

Yup. Give them your VIN and they can pull up the right part number. That's assuming there hasn't been a non-original engine-swap done at some point in the car's life...

And you may need to wait a day while they order it in, depending on the size and range of their in-store stock.

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
I wonder how soon before I should change the one in this car? Is there a recommended Preventative Maintenance on replacing one???

None that I know of. I replace them every 5-years, along with the rad hoses and the coolant, all with OE. It's cheap Preventive Insurance to make sure I stay mobile when I really need to be.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Tegger
Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
I wonder how soon before I should change the one in this car? Is there a recommended Preventative Maintenance on replacing one???

None that I know of. I replace them every 5-years, along with the rad hoses and the coolant, all with OE. It's cheap Preventive Insurance to make sure I stay mobile when I really need to be.

My 18 years old with more than 270k miles My LS400 has OEM thermostat replaced few years ago, then the upper OEM radiator hose was replaced 2 years ago after 240+k miles. But I flush the coolant every 2-3 years with Preston or Peak All Makes antifreeze, whenever I catch one of the 2 on sale.

My 12 years old E430 has OEM coolant system, nothing had been replaced yet other than flush the OEM antifreeze last summer and replace with Zerex G-05. It has good heat and engine temperature is within normal range of about 180-190F most of the times, why replace somethings that are working perfectly ?

 

[ltslimjim]

^Okay, compare that to a coolant temperature sensor that screws into the block. Should that be replaced as precautionary? I'm pretty sure mine is the original temp sensor, my car heats up and stays at about the same operating temp. Any reason to replace the coolant temp sensor before a thermostat?

 

[dakota99]

The temp sensor is something i would just leave alone. If it does show signs of going south, get your replacement from the dealer as well. Sensors are something i try to get OEM only.

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: dakota99
The temp sensor is something i would just leave alone. If it does show signs of going south, get your replacement from the dealer as well. Sensors are something i try to get OEM only.


Signs of a bad temp sensor? Temp gauge not rising or???

 

[crazyoildude]

who cares what it looks like?? I do and that is why i did not buy it
it was really bad looking

 

[Exhaustgases]

Originally Posted By: 91344George
I've never had a made in USA t stat fail out of the box, OTOH the ones from China, Mexico, nothing but problems.


I was going to answer this question saying no one makes a good one anymore. Why because most all are made in the places this fellow mentioned. The day is comming soon that the only way to get a good automotive part is to make it your self. Thats how I see it. Too much top dollar for imported junk nowadays.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
who cares what it looks like?? I do and that is why i did not buy it
it was really bad looking


Looks as we perceive them, do not always directly equate to performance.

 

[dakota99]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Originally Posted By: dakota99
The temp sensor is something i would just leave alone. If it does show signs of going south, get your replacement from the dealer as well. Sensors are something i try to get OEM only.


Signs of a bad temp sensor? Temp gauge not rising or???


My truck had the coolant sensor go bad this past fall, it would read 80-90F water temp when it was started cold. The outside temp was around freezing so it would hesitate and then sputter, but eventually would catch and run. Some days it read fine, right at ambient 34F and i had no issues. I ended up replacing it before the real cold set in.

Some vehicles have separate sensors, one for the temp gauge and one for the ecu.

 

[oilmaven]

My 1996 Honda Accord w/109,000 miles still has the original thermostat. I had the radiator fluid flushed and refilled (Honda OEM coolant...pretty blue color) and also did the hoses (upper and lower) last year but the thermostat the dealer gave me was the wrong one. The old thermostat looked OK so I just cleaned it up and put it back in...works fine. This car amazes me as to the quality parts Honda used...some say these models (94-97) may have been Honda's best in terms of reliability...my experience would back that up.

 

[George7941]

Originally Posted By: andyd
well, all I can say is that about 10 yrs ago, the thermostat dint open on my 88 528e The original thermostat lasted 15 yrs and about 250 k miles. Dlr wanted 31 $ for a 'stat, I cheaped out with an after mkt French made 'stat for 20$ No worries. The Jeeps with 360 were just as easy on stats. I dont remember ever replacing one. I have heard that the 'stats using a wax pellet weren't as reliable as the traditional ones with the bi-metallic spring


Never seen one with a bimetallic spring. Maybe you are thinking of a bellows type instead of the current piston type, but the bellows type also employed wax as its sensing element.