Who Makes The Best Thermostat For Cooling System ?

[crazyoildude]

At the shop today i got a thermostat delivered and the quality was not good at all ...
I told him and he said this is the best they carry...Also he offered a fail safe one but that was just as bad any ideas?

 

[Smokefan1977]

I see the same problem often. These days I just have it sent over by the dealer.

I had a run of stats that were bad out of the box. I absolutley HATE doing a job twice

 

[JHZR2]

Always boil the stat first, regardless of make.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Always boil the stat first, regardless of make.


+1 what he says will save you a lot of time when you find a bad one!

 

[tenderloin]

Stant seems to be as good as anyone these days.

 

[crazyoildude]

i tried the dealer a few years back and the thermostat looked like a very cheap product in an original a/c delco box

 

[MNgopher]

One item I now go to dealership for first, regardless of price. Just did the thermostat on my Cherokee three times - first two with a Stant Superstat. Neither would close enough after opening to actually maintain the correct temperature. My 195 stat would open correctly the 1st time, but then was running about 165 after opening when on the freeway, making me run rich and terrible fuel mileage. Dealership stat went in last weekend, and it works like it should.

I'd point out the two that failed this time were both made in the USA. The one that works: Made in Mexico. Go figure... Three times the price too...

 

[Chris142]

No problems from superstats here and I install a lot of them. Definatly stay away from those made in israel ones and the failsafe ones that lock open the first time they fully open.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Three times the price too...

And worth every penny, as far as I'm concerned. I gave up on aftermarket years ago.

That "three times the price" is going to be on the order of $30 instead of $10, hardly a bank-breaker. And that's for an item that is critical to the life of your engine and automatic transmission, and which will stay installed for 5-years. Buy a dicey aftermarket thermostat and you're saving a whopping...$4 per year. Such a deal!

 

[Merkava_4]

AC Delco thermostats for me.

 

[George7941]

The original on my truck lasted two years, the replacement Delco from RockAuto lasted another two, and, a couple of months ago, I installed a Stant Superstat. i got tired of the Delco stats.

 

[refaller]

Just replaced my thermostat in my CRV. When I got the old one out it looked a million times better than my replacement. The first one lasted 11 years. I just hope this one gives me a few. Wish I had seen the difference. I would have gotten an OEM.

ref

 

[pottymouth]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
i tried the dealer a few years back and the thermostat looked like a very cheap product in an original a/c delco box


Same here. Bought a Stant thermostat to replace the original in my Concorde. It was flimsy compared to the original so I picked one up at the Chrysler dealer for more than double the price. Opened up the Mopar box and it was identical to the Stant.

 

[andyd]

well, all I can say is that about 10 yrs ago, the thermostat dint open on my 88 528e The original thermostat lasted 15 yrs and about 250 k miles. Dlr wanted 31 $ for a 'stat, I cheaped out with an after mkt French made 'stat for 20$ No worries. The Jeeps with 360 were just as easy on stats. I dont remember ever replacing one. I have heard that the 'stats using a wax pellet weren't as reliable as the traditional ones with the bi-metallic spring

 

[wiswind]

Depends on the vehicle.
I bought Genuine Toyota for my Toyota.
The only one on Rockauto that had a picture that looked like it was Beck/Arney which often rebrands OEM (not the brand OEM) parts.
The labor to change a part is more than the cost of the part (if you are paying for it, more so).
There may be exceptions to buying genuine OEM, but none come to mind right now.

NOTE: There is a budget brand called "OEM" which is NOT to be confused with the part that you get from a dealership.

 

[crazyoildude]

i used a/c delco for years up until a few years ago and i will never buy another one it looked like a cheap (very cheap) after market piece of junk.. it did not even say a/c on it unless maybe someone took the good one out of the box and put a cheap one in..

 

[91344George]

I've never had a made in USA t stat fail out of the box, OTOH the ones from China, Mexico, nothing but problems.

 

[The_Eric]

Who cares what it looks like? Buy the correct OEM one for the application and forget about it. In my experience, the engines come to temp quicker and are more consistent with the OE stat.

 

[ltslimjim]

I get two "OE" temps for my VX. One is 180F and another is 170F, what gives?! lol

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
I get two "OE" temps for my VX. One is 180F and another is 170F, what gives?! lol

Imperial numbers? Those aren't OE. They aftermarket being marketed under a name that fools people into thinking they're the same as Original Equipment (OE).

Genuine-Honda OE will likely be made by Nippon Thermostat Company (NTC), and will be stamped with a Metric temperature. These are ONLY available at your Honda dealer, for about $35 each. Do not use aftermarket thermostats in your Honda, especially if it has an automatic transmission.

The 78C(172F) thermostat is for all engines but the D15Z1. The 82C (180F) one is for the D15Z1. I think your VX has the D15Z1. Check the engine number. It's on little flat pad on the forward edge of the block, under the head, between the transmission housing and the exhaust manifold. Might have to clean off the dirt first; the number can be hard to read on older engines.