Should the Thermostat Be Replaced if It's Leaking?

[McLucia]

The reason for the thermostat leaking is due to a damaged base, and it is recommended to replace the base with a new one. A damaged thermostat can prevent the engine's heat from being effectively dissipated. The methods to determine whether the thermostat is functioning properly are as follows: After starting the engine, open the filler cap of the coolant reservoir and observe whether there is any water flow inside the reservoir. If there is no flow, it indicates that the thermostat is damaged or there is debris stuck between the main valve and its switch. You can also judge by feeling the temperature of the upper and lower radiator hoses. First, start the engine and after 3 minutes, touch the upper and lower hoses. If the thermostat is functioning properly, the temperatures of the upper and lower hoses should be different, with the upper hose usually being hot and the lower hose being cool. When the engine coolant temperature reaches around 90 degrees Celsius, both hoses should be hot, indicating the thermostat is working correctly. If the temperatures of the upper and lower hoses remain the same after starting the engine, the thermostat is faulty.