Where is the car's thermostat located?
2 Answers
The car's thermostat is located at the upper water outlet of the engine. If the thermostat cannot maintain good technical condition, it will seriously affect the normal operation of the engine. If the main valve of the thermostat opens too late, it will cause the engine to overheat; if the main valve opens too early, the engine's preheating time will be too short, resulting in the engine temperature being too low. The thermostat automatically adjusts the amount of water entering the radiator based on the coolant temperature to ensure the engine operates within an appropriate temperature range, which can help save energy. Five minutes after a cold start, the coolant temperature should reach the normal range of 85 to 105 degrees. If it takes a long time to reach the normal operating temperature or the temperature rises rapidly above 110 degrees, it can indicate a thermostat malfunction.
I've driven quite a few cars and found that the thermostat is usually hidden in the front area of the engine bay, specifically near the water pump or radiator hose connections. For example, in my old Ford, it's right on top of the engine, visible as soon as you pop the hood. When the thermostat got stuck that one time, the temperature gauge suddenly spiked, almost causing the engine to overheat—luckily, I stopped in time to check and replaced it with a new one. If you notice abnormal water temperature while driving, it might be an issue with this component. To inspect it yourself, open the engine bay when the car is cold, and follow the coolant pipes to find a small valve-like metal part—that's it. Don't overlook this little thing; if it fails, it not only increases fuel consumption but also damages the engine's core components. It's recommended to have a professional check it every few years.
