Thermostats & Parts

Replace Your Thermostat Before It Causes Engine Damage

The best way to avoid a costly new car payment is to keep your current ride running great. That's where INFINITI of Tucson comes in. Your thermostat regulates engine temperature by controlling coolant flow between the engine and radiator based on temperature readings. This valve stays closed when the engine is cold to speed warmup time, then opens at a specific temperature to allow cooling. A stuck thermostat causes either overheating when closed or poor fuel economy and heater performance when stuck open, and neither condition should be ignored.

Common Thermostat Failure Modes

Thermostats fail through mechanical problems, corrosion, and deterioration of temperature-sensing elements inside the valve assembly. The wax pellet that expands and contracts with temperature changes loses its responsiveness after years of heating cycles, causing delayed opening or incomplete travel. Corrosion from old coolant locks the valve in one position, preventing it from responding to temperature changes at all. Scale buildup from hard water and contaminated coolant coats moving parts and restricts valve movement. The return spring that closes the valve weakens over time and fails to seat the valve properly. Rubber seals around the thermostat housing deteriorate and create coolant leaks even when the valve functions correctly. Electronic thermostats used in newer vehicles develop sensor failures or electrical connection problems that prevent proper operation. Housing bolts corrode and break during removal attempts, requiring housing replacement along with the thermostat. Replacement typically occurs between 60,000 and 100,000 miles as preventive maintenance during other cooling system service work.

Factory Thermostats Open at Precise Temperatures

Generic thermostats use incorrect opening temperatures that cause poor engine performance and emissions problems. Genuine INFINITI thermostats maintain exact specifications for vehicles like the QX80 and QX50, opening at temperatures programmed into the engine computer. Aftermarket parts lack quality control and may stick or fail within months of installation. Factory thermostats include proper gaskets and seals that prevent leaks at the engine connection point.

INFINITI of Tucson stocks everything you need for your next vehicle repair project.