changing thermostat for the summer?
 

Hey, so my thermostat is leaning to the cold side this winter. When o the highway, it leans more towards cold and when driving in the city stays in the middle.

My mechanic told me that i need to change my thermostat so in the summer, the car does not overheat. can my temp leaning to the cold side in the winter result in over heating in the summer?

How much does a thermostat job cost at an indy?

thanks!

Unless I am not thinking right today, how can a thermostat that is keeping your engine temp on the cool side be more likely to overheat regardless of ambient temperature?

Agreed! Hence the confusion. If it leans to the cooler side why should I worry, but my mechanic said it can lean to the hot side when its hot out vs winter cold? So hence my inquiry.

Thermostats don't lean. I believe your "mechanic" is in error.

quicksilver not sure if you were kidding but, my temperature needle leans to the cold side when on the highway and is perfectly centered in city driving. This is the cause of a faulty thermostat after 67k miles. so im considering changing but am not sure if necessary.

Of course I was kidding (A little bit) But honestly
Mine has never leaned regardless of the weather.
But your initial question just made me laugh.

Mine does the same: on highways, when the wind blows on teh radiator, the temperature might show 11:30 (70-75 Celius on the OBC) and in traffic jam and under load it's dead center (around 80 Celcius).

I am suspecting a faulty thermostat, but since summer is around teh corner, and temperature will reach 35 Celcius, i am leaving it this way... i might replace it in autumn...

BTW, ekvals and myself have asked many time: is an operating temperature of 75-85 celcius normal?

Cheers.

i had my thermostat changed a few months ago. The way the mech explained it to me was that since the thermostat always reads cold, then the cars computer thinks the engine temp is not high enough yet and will keep dumping gas into it, which in the long run would cause damage to the engine. But I am not sure if i remember correctly so perhaps someone more experienced would collaborate...or elaborate

I had a stuck open thremostat on my Audi, same exact symptoms. On freeway, the temp dips below half point but city driving it's normal.

Sounds like you need new thermostat, not sure how it'll overheat in summer; if the thermostat stay stuck in open position but maybe your mechanic worries it'll get stuck in close position(being broken already) then I can see the overheat scenario.
Which engine do you have?

when I had my thermostat changed...My indy mech who specializes in BMWs charged me about $280...I found that reasonable since I am not mechanically inclined...I can check oil and coolant levels and pump gas...but anything else makes me nervous...

Sticky thermostat...I would definitely change out before summer, engine overheating can lead to serious complications over the long run...

I just replaced my thermostat on sat its not that hard of a job heres a quick breakdown. you have to remove undercarriage cover up front makes for easier removal of antifreeze. remove plastic radiator cover on top of radiator. for easier acess you can remove air box hose I think 6mm socket or screwdiver. remove one hose on thermostat an clamp it back or you lose even more antifreeze. unplug sensor, then there are 3 bolts holding in thermostat an they are on angle I used 10 mm socket for those this a abit of a pia but slow and steady gets it done. it takes a little finesse to remove thermostat from housing i used a screwdriver to pry a little i mean a little you dont want to f it up but once removed watch out antifreeze comes out fast. replace in reverse order just make sure when replacing the hose back onto the thermostat that you hear a click. also when replacing antifreeze that you purge the air by removing the little plactic valve on the filler housing. I did this on a cold engine makes life much easier just remember to check your level after the first full heat cycle an replace to proper level. OOh yeah the reason why I replace was I was getting a code for thermostat mechanics it never deviated from center but didnt want it to get stuck closed.:thumbup:

Either way...once the car is properly warmed up (driving for 15 mins at least) that needle should read dead center 12 oclock..doesnt matter if you're on the highway, city roads, whatever...at 67k you should replace your tstat anyway..you'll have to soon so you mind as well do it now..

I think mine takes at least 25-30 min to heat to operating temp.. Which is in the area of 78-88... 88 when applying some gas, and 77-78 when rolling slightly downhill... This is in 3-4 dgrees celsius..

Okey thermostat.?


I'd appreciate a lot if others would post the operating temps they experience, and maybe also approx. how long it takes to reach it...

And i think bgsquad would be happy too..;)

:iagree:

Can anyone explain why the temp needle on my 2005 4.8is (I'm in Manila but I imported this car from San Francisco last September) sits at 12:01 - 12:02 (on the warmer side)? It never gets past that though. Is this normal? My brother in law has a Euro version E36 320i here in Manila and his temp sits at the same spot. My other brother in law's 2001 X5 4.4 (Dubai version) has his temp sitting at dead center. Are there cold and hot thermostats?

Thanks!

You can buy different thermostats to run at different temperatures.

I wouldn't worry about a tiny difference between 12:00 in one car and 12:02 in another car. It seems to me like BMW's temp gauges are just set to stay right in the middle and don't fluctuate much unless there is an issue. The only time mine moves (in any of my BMW's) is when the car is heating up to normal operating temp or if there is a major issue. If yours is close to straight up and down and remains constant, there is probably nothing to worry about. Even if it is 11:58 to 12:02 or something like that.

Thanks FSETH. I was beginning to think I needed a lower temp thermostat. I remember changing the thermostat in my old Mercedes W123 to a 'cooler' one.

What engine do you have in your X5. You mentioned that their were only three bolts, holding the thermostat to the water pump housing