Have you ever been a victim of these road side mechanics in Nigeria telling you the reason for your car overheating is because you've not removed the thermostat? Well, most car owners have had to face this misinformation at one time or the other, and this may have cost them engine inefficiencies in the long run. Your number one online car sales portal – Naijacarnews is here to give you the proper information if you’re already considering removing your thermostat.

Once the thermostat is removed, it means there is nothing to control the internal temperature of the engine

What does a thermostat do?

The engine is designed to work correctly at a particular temperature above or below which might subject engine performance to lower than optimum. This most times might be a tall order since the weather is always changing and temperature at any given time is not constant. Therefore, a device called the thermostat has been built-in by car manufacturers to sit between the engine and the radiator, to act as the temperature regulator. Consequently, when the engine is cold, the thermostat closes up to restrict the coolant from flowing to the engine so as to get it up to the designed temperature for optimum efficiency. Likewise, when running hot above the intended temperature, the thermostat releases the coolant to the engine to bring down the heat. So removing the thermostat is sure not the best as there are adverse effects for removing your car's thermostat.

What are the effects of removing the thermostat?

Let's take a look at the effect of removing a thermostat can have on your car.

High fuel consumption

The fuel supplied to the engine is efficiently used in combustion at a designed temperature the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS) in the car is responsible for sensing the temperature for optimum fuel consumption.

Your car may experience increased fuel consumption once your thermostat is gone!

The coolant is released to cool the engine far below the normal temperature and thus make the CTS release more fuel than the standard quantity required for combustion.

The wear and tear

Once the thermostat is removed, it means there is nothing to control the internal temperature of the engine. This results in inconsistent heating and cooling of engine parts which are all not made from the same materials, for example, rubber seals, aluminium pistons, iron blocks, fibre gaskets and so on. This irregular cooling and heating can eventually lead to the wearing and tearing of these parts causing major engine leaks in some instances. Also, the increase in fuel injection into the engine causes the washing off of the oil from the cylinder bores causing a bore-wash and increasing the untimely wearing of the engine.

Your car cooling system is not complete without the thermostat 

High emission

The rate and quantity of emission by the vehicle are increased as there is more fuel injected into the engine than what is typically required.

Your car is at risk of having increased emission without a thermostat!

Similarly, due to the constant expansion and contraction of engine parts, wearing of some seals may result in causing leakages in the engine leading to increased deposits, dirty engine, and increased emission.

Increased car maintenance cost

I guess this goes without saying as engine parts begin to wear faster than necessary since a vital component that ensures oil necessary to preserve moving parts is kept intact has been removed. Hence you spend more to maintain and replace leaking seals and worn parts while buying oils sooner than you ought, not to talk about the cost of refuelling.

Final take

The engine is designed to operate at an optimum temperature generated internally, not from external surroundings, as this is usually dependent on the traffic, speed and external temperature. Naijauto strongly advises that you don't leave your engine state at the mercies of irregular external temperature by removing your thermostat. This can only mean grievous consequences for your engine and the life of your car.