A Cars forum. AutoBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AutoBanter forum » Auto newsgroups » Technology
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 23rd 14, 03:18 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
Shanda
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the
part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that
gonna hurt the car

--
posted from
http://www.motorsforum.com/tech/can-...ad-115019-.htm
using MotorsForum's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to
rec.autos.tech and other automotive groups

Ads
  #2  
Old August 23rd 14, 03:33 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
.[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 113
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

On 8/23/2014 9:18 AM, Shanda wrote:
> Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the
> part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that
> gonna hurt the car


How do you know it's bad? Is it stuck open or closed? Although
not a good practice to drive w/o a thermostat, if it is stuck closed
(no flow through it), you'll absolutely have to remove it first, then
you can use the vehicle just for the period you describe.
  #3  
Old August 23rd 14, 04:13 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
Steve W.[_6_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,161
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

Shanda wrote:
> Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the
> part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that
> gonna hurt the car
>


Depends on what you mean by bad. How do you know it's bad?

If it's stuck open so the engine takes a long time to heat up, then you
shouldn't have a problem other than it doesn't warm up.

If it's stuck closed so that the engine overheats then you won't want to
drive it because it will likely overheat.

IF you think it's bad because it has already gotten hot or overheated
then it may be that damage has already been done. Depends on the engine,
how hot it got and what you did when it got hot.


--
Steve W.
  #4  
Old August 23rd 14, 06:19 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
JR[_8_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 625
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

On Saturday, August 23, 2014 10:13:17 AM UTC-5, Steve W. wrote:
> Shanda wrote:
>
> > Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the

>
> > part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that

>
> > gonna hurt the car

>
> >

>
>
>
> Depends on what you mean by bad. How do you know it's bad?
>
>
>
> If it's stuck open so the engine takes a long time to heat up, then you
>
> shouldn't have a problem other than it doesn't warm up.
>
>
>
> If it's stuck closed so that the engine overheats then you won't want to
>
> drive it because it will likely overheat.
>
>
>
> IF you think it's bad because it has already gotten hot or overheated
>
> then it may be that damage has already been done. Depends on the engine,
>
> how hot it got and what you did when it got hot.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Steve W.


If you take it out and want to test it,see what the temperature rating on the it says. Put it in a pan of water on your stove. Turn on the heat and check it with a thermometer. If it is good, you should see it start opening.
  #5  
Old August 23rd 14, 06:34 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
Scott Dorsey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,914
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

Shanda > wrote:
>Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the
>part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that
>gonna hurt the car


If it's broken in a way that the engine is running too cold, you'll be fine
for 20 miles. If it's broken in a way that the engine is running too hot,
don't drive it. Watch the gauge on the instrument panel and see which it is.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
  #6  
Old August 29th 14, 12:10 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

On Saturday, August 23, 2014 2:18:01 PM UTC, Shanda wrote:
> Can I drive my car if my thermostat is bad I need to take my car to get the
>
> part and then drive about 20 miles to have my son in law put it on is that
>
> gonna hurt the car
>
>
>
> --
>
> posted from
>
> http://www.motorsforum.com/tech/can-...ad-115019-.htm
>
> using MotorsForum's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to
>
> rec.autos.tech and other automotive groups

no you cant drive
  #7  
Old August 14th 17, 02:07 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

My thermostat gage is not moving at all can i drive it. Its a 2001 lmp
  #8  
Old August 14th 17, 10:32 PM posted to rec.autos.tech
Scott Dorsey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,914
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

In article >,
> wrote:
>My thermostat gage is not moving at all can i drive it. Its a 2001 lmp


Maybe, but I'd fix it. The thermostat is likely fine... but someday it
might not be and you'll never know until you ruin the engine. So fix the
gauge. Likely it's just the sender and you won't even have to go into
the dashboard.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
  #10  
Old August 22nd 17, 06:40 AM posted to rec.autos.tech
Sanity Clause[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11
Default Can I drive my car if the thermostat is bad

> wrote

> My thermostat gage is not moving at all can i drive it. Its a 2001 lmp


I'm only a week late. Hopefully you haven't destroyed your engine yet.

If the engine coolant is too low (or empty), the sensor won't be immersed, and
won't send a proper signal to the gauge. Once the engine gets so hot from
lack of coolant that it's about to melt, the heat will "soak" through the sensor's
body and the gauge will move. Please check your coolant level before that.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Thermostat GT[_14_] Alfa Romeo 107 December 16th 10 12:07 PM
Honda thermostat fixed + how to test your thermostat... [email protected] Honda 5 March 18th 09 03:33 AM
A6 V6 2.4/2.8 Thermostat Paul[_13_] Audi 4 February 14th 07 05:08 AM
'79 Thermostat JohnO Ford Mustang 7 January 2nd 07 04:10 PM
E46 Thermostat ReddDawg BMW 0 November 21st 05 01:05 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:24 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AutoBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.