Thermostat testing

[andrewg1323]

Is there a way to test the thermostats that push against the thermostat housing when removed from the car? Tried putting 2 different ones in a cup of hot water and nothing seems to happen and its somewhat unlikely both are duff...

[towcestervag]

thermostats open at around 90 degrees so a hot cup of water may not be enough

[andrewg1323]

I've tried boiling water with no joy, i think its more a case of the thermostats work by pushing against the housing so conventional test methods don't work, i;m thinking of mocking up some form clamp then boiling it as i dont fancy cooking the whole thermostat housing, basically i;m just messing about with a scrap 1400 16v engine trying to work out what killed it, thermostat or waterpump

[towcestervag]

yes they do on that engine
what happened to car?
the 1400 16v engine and the 1600 16v engine are renowned for weak bottom ends and cambelt failure also the valve guides go out of round and the valves stick causing low compressions

[andrewg1323]

Original engines cambelt snapped, so i fitted a new engine, cars owner then drove the car which overheated, he kept driving till it popped the bottom hose, then kept driving till the engine siezed, just wondering what caused it to overheat, want to rule out soemthing stupid like partially bocoked rad incase i end up fitting another engine...

[towcestervag]

not known rads to block
check fan operation when repaired
water pump would be my guess at failure

[grunt 2k9]

Hey

I am currently at college and learnt on this. The tutor showed me the best way to do it is that you have to buy a pan shaped device that you plug into socket mains, fill with cold water and pop the thermo on top into a small slot. Once it has got up to heat the thermo should pop open and obviously giving you the result.

Hope this helps.