Thermostat- if it ain't broken don't fix it?

[alphatarget1]

I'm replacing my dad's car's radiator next week. 1996 accord EX v6. The thermostat works fine right now but I read somewhere that some people replace the thermostat + the gasket when they do this job. Do you guys replace them too? Or just leave them as is and wait till it breaks...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Most of the time it's because you've already done 90% of the work and it's $5 worth of parts. Just preventative maintenance.

 

[brblx]

if it's easy to get to, you might as well, especially if you think it's still got the original in it.

it's not like you'll have to drain the whole cooling system again if you replace it later, though.

 

[Kaervak]

Most of the time it's because you've already done 90% of the work and it's $5 worth of parts. Just preventative maintenance.

Exactly. I've already replaced mine last year, otherwise when I change out my radiator in a few days I'd replace it as well since it's about 10 minutes extra work to do so.

If the thermostat is the original in the Accord, I'd definitely replace it. Mine was the original at nine years old and worked fine, but since I needed to replace the upper and lower rad hoses, I replaced the thermostat too just because it was little extra work.

 

[alphatarget1]

if it's easy to get to, you might as well, especially if you think it's still got the original in it.

it's not like you'll have to drain the whole cooling system again if you replace it later, though.

I think it's still the original, since we bought the car in 99 and we haven't changed it ever.

 

[brblx]

put one in it. 10+ years is a lot to ask of that little $5 part.

iirc it's really easy to get to on that engine, also. they didn't start burying them under the intake until recently, i think.

 

[Eli]

Most of the time it's because you've already done 90% of the work and it's $5 worth of parts. Just preventative maintenance.

This. If you're going to be mucking around in there anyway, just replace it.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Also, don't believe the hype about lower temp thermostats. Your engine was designed to run at a certain temperature.

 

[halik]

Generally those things are done with the water pump

 

[MovingTarget]

I'd just go ahead and get that done. You'd really be kicking yourself if it does break later because of all the wasted time/labor involved when you could've avoided it.

 

[T2urtle]

you dont get it done now and it leaks you still be spending a little more on lost coolant and time to make sure no air bubbles are in the system.

it almost always leaks tho... i tried to do a coolant sensor a couple of times without replacement of gasket not because it was cheap but because it didn't have one in stock or one time i lost it. ended up having a slow leak.

if you accord is a 4 banger the T-stat is VERY easy to find. i dont think i've seen the V6 t-stat housing tho.

 

[joutlaw]

I just did the radiator on my wife's 94 accord ex 4 cylinder.

I replaced the t-stat, outlet gasket, upper and lower rad hoses when I did the job. The way I looked at it was that I was there and why not. Probably took me an extra 15 minutes or so to do the job.

 

[bruceb]

You are doing the radiator so I suggest, new upper & lower radiator hoses, new thermostat, new pressure cap. You should also try to flush the rest of the cooling system as best you can. When you refill the system, use the correct color type antifreeze. I suggest you buy it in the Premixed 50/50 Ratio. Prestone makes it and they will have the correct version for a Honda. By using a 50/50 mix, you are assured of the best boilover and freeze protection.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Also, don't believe the hype about lower temp thermostats. Your engine was designed to run at a certain temperature.

This x10..

To elaborate on it a bit, your ECU determines how rich/lean the fuel mixture is (amongst other things) based on your water temp sensor.. Part of the big bonus of fuel injection is that you don't need a choke because of this - your ECU looks at the water temp to see how warmed up the motor is, and is effectively 'applying the choke' i.e. running rich until it's warmed up.

People for some reason think running rich helps to override losses from emissions-based tuning and it's totally false (for most vehicles anyway).

Plus the difference of 10F can make a HUGE difference as far as rich/lean depending on how advanced the FI system is.

 

[Lotheron]

This x10..

To elaborate on it a bit, your ECU determines how rich/lean the fuel mixture is (amongst other things) based on your water temp sensor.. Part of the big bonus of fuel injection is that you don't need a choke because of this - your ECU looks at the water temp to see how warmed up the motor is, and is effectively 'applying the choke' i.e. running rich until it's warmed up.

People for some reason think running rich helps to override losses from emissions-based tuning and it's totally false (for most vehicles anyway).

Plus the difference of 10F can make a HUGE difference as far as rich/lean depending on how advanced the FI system is.

Not to mention the closer a engine runs at the designed operating temperature, the cleaner fuel will burn resulting in better gas mileage / lower emissions.

 

[CraigRT]

As long as its an easy job worth doing while the coolant is already out, then yeah, for sure.

Some are a huge pain to get at, and I'd risk leaving them if it were a bitch of a job.

They're easy on my 96 Saturn.. Easy as pie infact.

 

[Vette73]

Replace it but also don;t forget to replace the Rad. Cap. and Rad. hoses if they are also OE.

Check out Rockauto for parts if you have not got them yet.

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