DIY: Bench Test Thermostat
#1
DIY: Bench Test Thermostat
This DIY will show you how to easily bench test (or stove top test) the thermostat.
1) Remove thermostat from vehicle.
3) Grip the top of the thermostat with long pliers or channel locks. Just make sure its long enough to where your hand isn't over or near the boiling water.
Notice the valve is closed.
4) Once the water is boiling, place the thermostat into water.
Hopefully you'll begin to see water coming up through the center.
This indicates the wax is melting and the valve is opening.
5) Now the valve is fully open.
Allow the thermostat to cool before handling.
The valve closed is a good indication that its likely cool enough to handle.
1) Remove thermostat from vehicle.
Instead of detailing the removal process, I'll just direct you to my SSV removal video since the steps are identical.
Just once you get to removing the upper thermostat housing, then you pull the thermostat out.
http://www.vimeo.com/7093611
2) Start boiling water, in a pot, on the stove (hopefully you can handle that).Just once you get to removing the upper thermostat housing, then you pull the thermostat out.
http://www.vimeo.com/7093611
3) Grip the top of the thermostat with long pliers or channel locks. Just make sure its long enough to where your hand isn't over or near the boiling water.
Notice the valve is closed.
4) Once the water is boiling, place the thermostat into water.
Hopefully you'll begin to see water coming up through the center.
This indicates the wax is melting and the valve is opening.
5) Now the valve is fully open.
Allow the thermostat to cool before handling.
The valve closed is a good indication that its likely cool enough to handle.
#4
Thought about adding a thermocouple from my Fluke, but with the boiling point of water being 212F, its probably most important that the valve is fully open at this time anyway.
If you wanted to verify opening and fully open temps... sure, you can use a thermometer.
Verify the valve starts opening at ~180F and should be fully open by 203F
But if the valve isn't open while inserted into 212F water, then you know there is a problem and temp measuring is meaningless.
Also, for anyone with the MazMart/REmedy thermostat who wants to measure opening temps, the valve should start opening at ~170F
If you wanted to verify opening and fully open temps... sure, you can use a thermometer.
Verify the valve starts opening at ~180F and should be fully open by 203F
But if the valve isn't open while inserted into 212F water, then you know there is a problem and temp measuring is meaningless.
Also, for anyone with the MazMart/REmedy thermostat who wants to measure opening temps, the valve should start opening at ~170F
#10
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
as usual, great DIY Jon.
I have my OEM t-stat lying around, I'll mess with it and see if is still working properly just for fun.
I have my OEM t-stat lying around, I'll mess with it and see if is still working properly just for fun.
#11
Banned
iTrader: (3)
I put the t-stat in cold water and bring it to a boil to measure when it cracks and when it is actually open.
This test shown above is only pass/fail and not really useful for the RX-8 since our "failure" mode is around the cracking temperature.
Get a laser thermometer and monitor the water temp as it climbs.
This test shown above is only pass/fail and not really useful for the RX-8 since our "failure" mode is around the cracking temperature.
Get a laser thermometer and monitor the water temp as it climbs.
#12
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
^^^ that's what I was gonna do.
gives me an excuse to use my laster thermometer. Such a fun little toy
gives me an excuse to use my laster thermometer. Such a fun little toy
#14
I planned on updating this DIY to include monitoring the water temp, but ran into some inconsistencies using my thermometer.
Where are you centering the reading/laser?
I noticed if I aim towards the top of the water along the side of the pot, the temp is almost 10F lower than if I aimed along the outer-bottom of the pot.
Then the more I moved towards the center, the hotter it got.
Tried to concentrate the aim around the TS, but that was inconsistent too.
Reading the temps on the top of the valve was different than around the spring or anywhere else.
I thought it would be ideal to focus where the wax is, but the spring was much hotter than the shaft that houses the wax (I assume since I couldn't get a direct aim at the shaft).
So how do you guys go about monitoring the temps with a thermometer?
I'm thinking a thermocouple at the top of the water near the TS would be most accurate.
What are your opinions?
Where are you centering the reading/laser?
I noticed if I aim towards the top of the water along the side of the pot, the temp is almost 10F lower than if I aimed along the outer-bottom of the pot.
Then the more I moved towards the center, the hotter it got.
Tried to concentrate the aim around the TS, but that was inconsistent too.
Reading the temps on the top of the valve was different than around the spring or anywhere else.
I thought it would be ideal to focus where the wax is, but the spring was much hotter than the shaft that houses the wax (I assume since I couldn't get a direct aim at the shaft).
So how do you guys go about monitoring the temps with a thermometer?
I'm thinking a thermocouple at the top of the water near the TS would be most accurate.
What are your opinions?
#17
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http://media.rexbo.net/parts/gates/j.../TH24782G1.jpg
Is this the correct size and dimensions of the OEM one ?
Is this the correct size and dimensions of the OEM one ?
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