Reasons Why the Thermostat Fails to Open?
2 Answers
Reasons why the thermostat fails to open are as follows: 1. Internal damage to the thermostat, caused by excessively high temperatures for valve opening and full opening. 2. Damage to the thermostat's opening valve, due to prolonged warm-up time and low water temperature. 3. Blockage in the water passage, caused by debris or dust near the water passage. 4. Frozen radiator, primarily due to extremely low temperatures or the absence of antifreeze. 5. Water temperature too low, mainly caused by the detachment of the main valve or leakage of the oil controlling the main valve's movement. Solutions are as follows: 1. Inspect the thermostat internally. 2. Replace the opening valve. 3. Clear the water passage. 4. Defrost the radiator.
I've been driving for over 20 years and have seen many cases where the thermostat fails to open. The most common issue is it getting stuck, like in cars I've repaired where internal rust or dirt buildup occurs - this often happens when the coolant isn't clean. It could also be due to spring fatigue or seal ring failure causing leaks, preventing it from responding to temperature increases. This is a fairly common problem, especially in winter when engines warm up slowly, often triggering overheating warnings. My advice is to regularly flush the cooling system and change antifreeze every two years to prevent debris accumulation. Always monitor your temperature gauge while driving - if the needle consistently stays in the high range, get it checked at a professional shop immediately. Otherwise, engine damage becomes likely, leading to much costlier repairs. Prevention is better than cure - developing good maintenance habits can save you major headaches.
