Hot thermostats for short trips?

[mpack88]

Was changing oil in my parents pair of 2001 saturns sl2 & sl2 and noticed water mixed with oil below the oil cap on the sl1. Immediately checked the oil but appeared fix but very black. When I drained it it wreaked of gasoline and I asked him has it been running ok. He said runs fine but uses alot if gas and heater wont blow hot. So I need a thermostate. Conformed that it runs to cold. Theres 185°f and 192°. OEM would've been 188°. Autozones is at 180°f. Since he does short trips which is also contributes to the problem, would a hotter thermostate be better to get it hotter sooner? I also told him he needs to drive it more sometimes to get the engine hot to burn off that condensation.

 

[Rand]

The answer to your question is OEM thermostat. if you dont want to be doing the job again.

 

[eljefino]

OEM should be 195. You will find the rubber seal in your old one is compromised.

Save the receipt. These are an every-two-year maintenance item.

Stant is fine too. Saturn dealers aren't where they used to be.

 

[wpod]

No.

 

[AutoMechanic]

OEM but it might be hard to get since Saturn is long gone by now. Also Stant is good too I’ve had great luck with them. I am not sure how him doing short trips would contribute more to this. It seems that would be better since the engine wouldn’t be running as long.

 

[mpack88]

OEM but it might be hard to get since Saturn is long gone by now. Also Stant is good too I’ve had great luck with them. I am not sure how him doing short trips would contribute more to this. It seems that would be better since the engine wouldn’t be running as long.

That was my thinking to. Well I went to o'Reilly and got a murry 185°f with housing that clearly says Motorrad on the side. Oh well. I dont see this old saturn being around much longer anyway. With my recent experience OEM thermostats are the way to go.

 

[AutoMechanic]

That was my thinking to. Well I went to o'Reilly and got a murry 185°f with housing that clearly says Motorrad on the side. Oh well. I dont see this old saturn being around much longer anyway. With my recent experience OEM thermostats are the way to go.

The Murray aren’t too bad I put one on my dads car a couple years ago after his fell apart it has worked good no issues so far this was before we knew what RockAuto was or we would have gotten one from there.

 

[wpod]

Frequent oil changes.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

If the OEM thermostat opens, the engine is warmed up. It's possible that Stant is the OE supplier. The 4th gen F-body OEM thermostat is Stant.

GM doesn't supply the OEM thermostat anymore, but they do still supply the OE radiator, which Rock Auto has for a fair price

 

[spasm3]

Was changing oil in my parents pair of 2001 saturns sl2 & sl2 and noticed water mixed with oil below the oil cap on the sl1. Immediately checked the oil but appeared fix but very black. When I drained it it wreaked of gasoline and I asked him has it been running ok. He said runs fine but uses alot if gas and heater wont blow hot. So I need a thermostate. Conformed that it runs to cold. Theres 185°f and 192°. OEM would've been 188°. Autozones is at 180°f. Since he does short trips which is also contributes to the problem, would a hotter thermostate be better to get it hotter sooner? I also told him he needs to drive it more sometimes to get the engine hot to burn off that condensation.

I would also check the build date of your 01 saturns. Saturn originally had polymer coolant temp sensors up until late 2001. Those would leak and cause it to run really rich. The oem went to a brass cts in late 01-2002. The polymer ones would leak and corrode the connector, so frequently you have to replace the connector as well.

 

[demarpaint]

The answer to your question is OEM thermostat. if you dont want to be doing the job again.

I agree 100%.

 

[dlundblad]

I would also check the build date of your 01 saturns. Saturn originally had polymer coolant temp sensors up until late 2001. Those would leak and cause it to run really rich. The oem went to a brass cts in late 01-2002. The polymer ones would leak and corrode the connector, so frequently you have to replace the connector as well.

What exactly is the difference? They look the same to me. Lol

 

[dlundblad]

One thing you could consider is an inline block heater that goes on the lower radiator hose. Plus it in an hr before use or something.

 

[mpack88]

I would also check the build date of your 01 saturns. Saturn originally had polymer coolant temp sensors up until late 2001. Those would leak and cause it to run really rich. The oem went to a brass cts in late 01-2002. The polymer ones would leak and corrode the connector, so frequently you have to replace the connector as well.

See, that's why I love these forums. Always learn something new. I was actually thinking about changing that aswell. I definitely will.

 

[spasm3]

What exactly is the difference? They look the same to me. Lol

One has a plastic polymer type tip , looks brass colored but is plastic and cracks. The other has a solid brass tip. The polymer ones are well know to leak and usually if not found early, corrodes out the connector with it.

When it fails, it gives the ecm the idea that the engine is cold, and it runs rich, real rich.

I have used the standard motor products brand.

 

[Chris142]

5* warmer won't matter as far as the car is concerned. My Jeep takes a 195*. I run a 205* in it for winter.

 

[mpack88]

5* warmer won't matter as far as the car is concerned. My Jeep takes a 195*. I run a 205* in it for winter.

I'm going to run the hotter one also in the Saturn. 193° isnt real hot though.

 

[ka9mnx]

I thought all engines ran 195's for the last 40 years?

 

[Chris142]

I thought all engines ran 195's for the last 40 years?

Nope. Many Honda's are still running 170. Our 07 Toyota takes a 180.

 

[mpack88]

I thought all engines ran 195's for the last 40 years?

Not all