Changed thermostat without making a mess

Sephx1 · 11-05-2022, 05:51 PM

Needed to replace the thermostat on one of my cars today, had seen some videos where they drove the car up on ramps to keep the coolant from leaking out when the housing was removed. I don’t have ramps, so as an alternative to this or draining it down, I used a heavy duty garbage bag to catch the small amount of coolant that came out. Probably less than a cup or two came out, so not something to be too concerned about.

302crossram · 11-05-2022, 07:05 PM

nice, did you replace it due to failure or for a lower temp.
I used to live in Scottsdale, under hood Temps sure do get hotter...

6spdhyperblue · 11-05-2022, 07:37 PM

Not a bad idea.

I like the katech 174 myself. Not a huge difference, but just takes the edge off

Ventmaster · 11-05-2022, 08:25 PM

While we're on this topic... was I the only person to get ready to drain the radiator for fresh Dexcool and be unable to find a radiator cap?

I ended up removing the upper radiator hose at the thermostat housing to refill, but I did feel pretty stupid to assume there would be a old fashion pressure cap somewhere under the hood.

Everything went fine, especially since, on a whim, I bought this ratcheting hose clamp removal tool (actually for lower radiator hoses I think) but it gave me a "third hand" to facilitate the maneuver very smoothly- https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...+5ba28fd9454f1

Anyway, this works well but am I getting really stupid... or do we not have a rad cap? To be completely transparent (getting as tired of that phrase as me?), I carried a bunch of CD's in my car for the first several years before I realized it does not have a CD player (I just like listening to the engine), so anything is possible with my current LOC (level of consciousness). Little help??

Sephx1 · 11-06-2022, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302crossram

nice, did you replace it due to failure or for a lower temp.
I used to live in Scottsdale, under hood Temps sure do get hotter...

I replaced it due to failure or possibly it was a 160 a previous owner put in without a tune. I got a code once back in February shortly after getting the car, then it never happened again, presumably because the weather warmed up quickly after that. Once things cooled down again last week I got it twice. Hopefully it’s fixed. Tested the old one, looks faulty to me. Wide open at 120 degrees

11-05-2022, 05:51 PM	#1
Sephx1 Drives: 18 ZLE, 18 SS1LE, 16 SS, 23 ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 414	Changed thermostat without making a mess Needed to replace the thermostat on one of my cars today, had seen some videos where they drove the car up on ramps to keep the coolant from leaking out when the housing was removed. I don’t have ramps, so as an alternative to this or draining it down, I used a heavy duty garbage bag to catch the small amount of coolant that came out. Probably less than a cup or two came out, so not something to be too concerned about. Attached Images

11-05-2022, 07:37 PM	#3
6spdhyperblue Drives: 6th gen Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: US Posts: 3,675	Not a bad idea. I like the katech 174 myself. Not a huge difference, but just takes the edge off __________________ ‘22 2SS 1LE M6 Summit White - RF, Flexfuel, LT2 intake, 95mm tb, ATI udp, VT ramair, full 28” dragpack - 11.68@122 ‘16 1SS M6 LT2 intake + boltons on DR 11.0@126+ (Sold)

11-05-2022, 07:05 PM	#2
302crossram Drives: 2023 Sharkskin 2SS Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: NWFL Posts: 758	nice, did you replace it due to failure or for a lower temp. I used to live in Scottsdale, under hood Temps sure do get hotter...

11-05-2022, 08:25 PM	#4
Ventmaster Drives: 2017 1SS 6spd Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 2,869	While we're on this topic... was I the only person to get ready to drain the radiator for fresh Dexcool and be unable to find a radiator cap? I ended up removing the upper radiator hose at the thermostat housing to refill, but I did feel pretty stupid to assume there would be a old fashion pressure cap somewhere under the hood. Everything went fine, especially since, on a whim, I bought this ratcheting hose clamp removal tool (actually for lower radiator hoses I think) but it gave me a "third hand" to facilitate the maneuver very smoothly- https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...+5ba28fd9454f1 Anyway, this works well but am I getting really stupid... or do we not have a rad cap? To be completely transparent (getting as tired of that phrase as me?), I carried a bunch of CD's in my car for the first several years before I realized it does not have a CD player (I just like listening to the engine), so anything is possible with my current LOC (level of consciousness). Little help??

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