thermostat question

[vegas39]

Hey all. Does are factory thermostats fail in the open position? I noticed flying up the freeway last night, that my temp was running 155 degrees. This morning it took forever to warm up, usually on the freeway I run 195.
I put this stat in about 3 1/2 years ago, seems like it should have lasted longer than that.

 

[icanfixall]

Hello Kenny. Yes, a factory thermostat should last longer that 3 1/2 years. Its time to remove your stat and look it over. What may have happened is the rubber gasket seal that surrounds the seat may have broken loose and is not keeping the valve portion open. Have another thermostat available when you tear into this job unless you have a spare vehical to drive. If everything looks fine test this stat in boiling water on the stove top but... do this when nobody is watching... The wives don't like it when we do mechanical "testing" in the kitchen with the pots and pans... Notice I didn't say HER pots and pans....

 

[chris142]

A thermostat can fail open, closed or anywhere in between. Sounds like yours may be part way open when it should be closed.

 

[vegas39]

Hello Kenny. Yes, a factory thermostat should last longer that 3 1/2 years. Its time to remove your stat and look it over. What may have happened is the rubber gasket seal that surrounds the seat may have broken loose and is not keeping the valve portion open. Have another thermostat available when you tear into this job unless you have a spare vehical to drive. If everything looks fine test this stat in boiling water on the stove top but... do this when nobody is watching... The wives don't like it when we do mechanical "testing" in the kitchen with the pots and pans... Notice I didn't say HER pots and pans....

Well Gary, not to make myself look like a sissy *****, cause I'm not but the pots and pans happen to be mine.
Bet I'm not the only man on this forum that has to do all the cooking!

Anyway, we're heading out for Reno for the holidays but I'll grab a new stat from IH when I get back and fool with it then.

 

[RLDSL]

Well Gary, not to make myself look like a sissy *****, cause I'm not but the pots and pans happen to be mine.
Bet I'm not the only man on this forum that has to do all the cooking!

.

I sure as heck wont be throwing any stones. All the good pots and pans in our house are mine too... and I'm always all over my wife's case for scratching the things up or warping them needless to say, she has NO say when I'm doing things like testing stats

 

[vegas39]

I sure as heck wont be throwing any stones. All the good pots and pans in our house are mine too... and I'm always all over my wife's case for scratching the things up or warping them needless to say, she has NO say when I'm doing things like testing stats

Right on Robert.