changing the thermostat - how to
The engine cover needs to be removed only to reach the bleeding point in the engine bay to bleed the cooling system afterwards.
This is the part we need to access - the thermostat housing:
To get access I removed two elements, the coolant expansion tank and the oil neck.
The oil neck is fixed with one 10mm bolt only to the inlet manifold.
The expansion tank is bolted on with two 8mm bolts, two rubber hoses are fixed with clamps. Of course you will lose some coolant when removing the lower hose but it can be caught easily with a little bowl and reused later:
And this is the area we need to access:
The thermostat housing is bolted to the engine with a single 10mm bolt, quite easy to reach (but hard to photograph).
One rubber hose is clamped to it, also easy to reach and remove. Here you will lose about 3ltr coolant, catch it with a bigger bowl under the car.
Now the funny part starts - to remove the thermostat housing a coolant hose needs to be moved that is bolted to the engine.
It's not rubber but steel and the bolts cannot be seen from above. The area is really narrow with several hoses and cables, small hands and several extensions for a ratchet are an advantage...
That's the part that needs to be moved:
It's bolted to the engine block with two 10mm bolts you need to find with your fingertips...
That's the hardest job!
When the bolts are lose the hose can be moved to the left and the thermostat housing removed.
To open the housing simply open three 8mm bolts and remove the thermostat:
The thermostat did not look too bad but when tested in boiling and cold water it did not open/close.
Rebuild in reverse order, refill the coolant system and bleed afterwards.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Leigh Ping
- Offline
- Moderator
- Posts: 6838
- Thanks: 1631
Replied by Leigh Ping on topic changing the thermostat - how to
Posted 10 years 9 months ago #140407The more guides the merrier. :yesnod:
Thermostat (PRT) Pressure Relief - Replacement guide.
Thermostat replacement guide - Replacement guide.
Thermostat replacement pre 2002. - Thermostat replacement, older type, pre 2002.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- David Aiketgate
- Offline
- David
- mgf mk2 freestyle mpi 16" wheels, in Anthracite.
- Posts: 20354
- Thanks: 4453
Replied by David Aiketgate on topic changing the thermostat - how to
Posted 10 years 9 months ago #140409David
:shrug:
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
The only additions I have to help, is if you put a small mirror placed on the cross member you can see the bolts to undo on the pipes.
Also when re-installing the thermostat housing put a cable tie just behind the "O" ring that goes into the pipe, so that it does not get displaced out of its groove.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- IsaacPlaysBass
- Offline
- Novice MGer
- Posts: 1
- Thanks: 0
Replied by IsaacPlaysBass on topic changing the thermostat - how to
Posted 4 years 1 month ago #194453Your guide has re-assured me that I'm following the correct procedure, as I've failed to remove the steel coolant pipes and thermostat so far. I guess I need more gorilla wrestling practice.
The time that you've put into the community over the years is always really appreciated.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- David Aiketgate
- Offline
- David
- mgf mk2 freestyle mpi 16" wheels, in Anthracite.
- Posts: 20354
- Thanks: 4453
Replied by David Aiketgate on topic changing the thermostat - how to
Posted 3 years 8 months ago #195444David
:shrug:
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
"Keep calm, relax, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- David Aiketgate
- Offline
- David
- mgf mk2 freestyle mpi 16" wheels, in Anthracite.
- Posts: 20354
- Thanks: 4453
Replied by David Aiketgate on topic changing the thermostat - how to
Posted 1 year 7 months ago #202030David
:shrug:
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.