Replacing Thermostat

[1fast6]

Is it possible to do this without having to drain the entire cooling system? I.e. can i just disconnect the top hose and thermostat housing without losing massive amounts of coolant. Obviously i will rebleed the system afterwards but if the coolant loss is minimal i won't bother draining the entire lot through the bottom hose.

Also which end goes in the thermostat housing? Spring end or flat end?

Thanks

[FlamingMonkey]

I did this on Friday under the supervision of 2live, I took airbox and battery out, left all the pipes connected, then removed all the torx bolts, think there was 4 of them, pulled it away and all the fluid drained out, clean up the edges of the block and thermostat housing, use some gasket sealant on the edges, and place the thermostat in to the housing, it should only go one way, make sure you get a new rubber seal too as it will most likely be perished, plonk the housing back on the block and tighten the bolts up finger tight, then I just nipped them up with the wrench, I then topped up the coolant, didn't use all 5 litres, think I needed about 2 litres extra.

Car is excellent now, coolant temp is what it should be, as the old one had a split in the rubber innard, so was acting as a bypass I presume, so the car would never get warm. My heaters burn my face now, they weren't bad before but fook me, them boys get hot. Plus replacing the thermostat has *touches wood* solved my dodgy stalling/idleing problem too.

[Laine_16v]

Thats identical to the way i did it!

Just undo the stat housing and let it all pour out, saves time farting around with air locks and jubilee clips.

30 Minute job.

[FlamingMonkey]

You noticed any difference laine?

[BRUN]

ive done mine a few times and you do lose quite a bit of coolant....

not all of it though, id have 5L ready but you will only use about half of that

[1fast6]

Cheers guys i'll try it this weekend.

[Laine_16v]

You noticed any difference laine?

Yeah lol, i took the stat housing off and found NO thermostat, no wonder my car wasnt heating up!!

Car now gets up to temperature nicely and stays there.

Oil temp never used to go above 60, now sits at 100 nicely 8)

[mattyc]

Can any one take a picture of the thermostat houseing on the block? because im about to pay someone todo this, but if its as easy as it sounds will try my self, cheers.

[Laine_16v]

Can any one take a picture of the thermostat houseing on the block? because im about to pay someone todo this, but if its as easy as it sounds will try my self, cheers.

Dont pay someone to do this seriously im a novice but if you take your time its fine.

The stat housing is next to the distributor cap, held onto the engine by 5 torx bolts. Unscrew them and you can pull it back just enough to put a new thermostat without taking any pipes of e.t.c

[BRUN]

if i can do it, anyone can..........really !

the only problem that may arise is if any of the bolts for the housing are rounded off

[Laine_16v]

if i can do it, anyone can..........really !

the only problem that may arise is if any of the bolts for the housing are rounded off

Yeah mine were fooking tight. Had to use mole grips on my torx driver to get some leverage on them. Thankfully they didnt round off.

[1fast6]

brun didn't you put your thermostat in the wrong way round one time?

[2 live]

lmao.......not even baldrick could be that stupid lol

[VIPERONE]

LooL

if you are quick you wont loose hardly any fluid.

[BRUN]

hhmmmmm yes i did......and what made it worse was i had to modify the stat housing to get it in the wrong way lol

[Laine_16v]

hhmmmmm yes i did......and what made it worse was i had to modify the stat housing to get it in the wrong way lol

Haha thats pretty funny, didnt it occur to try putting it in the other way? :P

[2 live]

hhmmmmm yes i did......and what made it worse was i had to modify the stat housing to get it in the wrong way lol



i retract my statement............some ppl really are stupid ;) lol

[BRUN]

lol

[Rajk]

did you bleed the system after replacing everything otherwise you run the risk of a air lock.

[Laine_16v]

did you bleed the system after replacing everything otherwise you run the risk of a air lock.

I didnt :oops: . Topped it up and off i went

[BRUN]

i have done