How long does a thermostat last?
No matter what car or truck you drive, it has a thermostat. This thermostat is responsible for monitoring and regulating the temperature of the coolant in your car's engine. If you were to look at a thermostat, you would see that it is a metal valve with a built-in sensor. The thermostat performs two functions - closes or opens - and this is what determines the behavior of the coolant. When the thermostat is closed, coolant remains in the engine. When it opens, coolant can circulate. It opens and closes depending on the temperature. Coolant is used to prevent engine overheating and serious damage.
Since the thermostat is always on and always opens and closes, it is quite common for it to fail. While there is no set mileage that predicts when it will fail, it is important to act on it once it fails. It is also recommended to replace the thermostat, even if it does not fail, every time you perform work on the cooling system that is considered serious.
Here are some signs that may signal the end of a thermostat's life:
If the Check Engine light comes on, it's always a concern. The problem is, you can't tell why it happened until the mechanic reads the computer codes and diagnoses the problem. A faulty thermostat can certainly cause this light to come on.
If your car heater is not working and the engine stays cold, it could be a problem with your thermostat.
On the other hand, if your engine is overheating, it could be because your thermostat is not working and not allowing coolant to circulate.
The thermostat is an important part to keep the engine running properly. The thermostat allows the coolant to circulate when needed to lower the engine temperature. If this part doesn't work, you risk overheating the engine or not warming it up enough. As soon as a part fails, it is important to replace it immediately.
