Thermostat with no o-ring, what would happen?
08-30-2003, 05:59 AM
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Thermostat with no o-ring, what would happen?
Some time about I had WP/TB thermostat etc replaced by an independent shop. I got all parts from GermanAutoParts.com including an OEM thermostat and o-ring - two separate parts. The thermostat came in a small box and o-ring in a plastic bag. Several days after the job was done I discovered that the o-ring was not used.
The mechanic did not really remember why but was guessing that the thermostat box must have come with another o-ring inside. I know it's quite possible, germanautoparts guy told me that the thermostat box may have an o-ring included though he was not sure. I do not remember seeing o-ring in the thermostat box, but frankly I did not pay attention and am not sure either.
I would tend to believe it and not worry about the whole thing, but I still have a very small coolant leak. Could it be caused by thermostat installed without o-ring? Is there any way to find out without taking the car apart again?
The mechanic did not really remember why but was guessing that the thermostat box must have come with another o-ring inside. I know it's quite possible, germanautoparts guy told me that the thermostat box may have an o-ring included though he was not sure. I do not remember seeing o-ring in the thermostat box, but frankly I did not pay attention and am not sure either.
I would tend to believe it and not worry about the whole thing, but I still have a very small coolant leak. Could it be caused by thermostat installed without o-ring? Is there any way to find out without taking the car apart again?
08-30-2003, 07:22 AM
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Re: When you take your car back to the shop have the mechanic put the coolant
system under pressure. This should show where the leak is coming from.
Whenever you replace a part in the coolant system it is not unusal for something else to go bad. Especially if the car is a couple of years or older.
What happens is that the new parts create a tighter seal in the system and therefore the next weakest item in that system goes bad under the greater pressure created by the installation of the new parts.
We would always let the clients know that if we replace a weak item in the coolant system it could lead to futher repairs from the weaker items that will leak under the greater pressure.
A good dealer or independent shop should always tell you this and they should automatically do a pressure check of the coolant system once they have installed the new parts to check for any additional leaks.
Most clients did not mind the added repairs (if needed) once we explained to them how it works.
Hope this helps.
rmg
Whenever you replace a part in the coolant system it is not unusal for something else to go bad. Especially if the car is a couple of years or older.
What happens is that the new parts create a tighter seal in the system and therefore the next weakest item in that system goes bad under the greater pressure created by the installation of the new parts.
We would always let the clients know that if we replace a weak item in the coolant system it could lead to futher repairs from the weaker items that will leak under the greater pressure.
A good dealer or independent shop should always tell you this and they should automatically do a pressure check of the coolant system once they have installed the new parts to check for any additional leaks.
Most clients did not mind the added repairs (if needed) once we explained to them how it works.
Hope this helps.
rmg
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