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[amba]

Lots of previous post on forum about thermostats partialy working.

If a thermostat is failing to fully open and car is always running below correct temperature what is the additional fuel consumption as a %.

Reason for question is my newly acquired 3.2 struggles to get gauge above 80 and top hose gets hot slowly not with a surge so failing stat seems to be the problem,but would like to understand what is the potential cost in fuel to driving with stst not functioning corectly

[I_want_an_Omega]

Its difficult to quantify without doing a before/after test on the same vehicle.

Pal of mine has a Signum 3.2 - he had the same problem with his, a new stat sorted it completely, he reckoned the car felt & ran better and that his average mpg increased on a run - but not around town.

Defo worth doing Andrew.

[Andy B]

No idea as a % but with petrol at the price it is, it's not going to take very long before you reach the price of a thermostat.

[amba]

I will be replacing it probably tomorrow as weather forecast is kinder and work has all but given up here 

My old 2.5 did seem to improve a little when changed on that a year or so ago,but as have no first hand knowledge what to expect from a 3.2 as gauges register different  but understand temp should be at "mid-point" not on the bottom end of scale.

Did a 200 mile run yesterday and consumption averaged at 22.8 but was enjoying the loud pedel on the new toy so  perhaps not a true measure.

Spanners out in the morning then 

[Nick W]

Replacing the thermostat on mine put the average economy back up to 25mpg, from the very low twenties that it had dropped to. Which makes the £17 cost and the horribly fiddly job easier to bear.

[05omegav6]

21-22 mpg instead of 27-28

[Andy B]

.... Which makes the £17 cost and  ...

 assume that's just for the innards  .... bear in mind that the stat housing & transfer tube might now have 'rusted' into a single item & might need one or the other destroying for removal

[05omegav6]

Agreed,  better to have that eventuality covered rather than waiting until Sunday luchtime 

Being a later 3.2 yours will almost certainly require the thicker flange, so shop carefully...

Thermostat 55353492 £78.50
Sealing ring 24447061 £1.27
Transfer pipe 90411629 £13.55
Transfer seals 9129999 x2 £0.94 ea

Prices are Vauxhall retail plus VAT...

If you run the thermostat p/n through ebay.com then you should get a genuine one delivered for two thirds the cost of a Vauxhall supplied one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-Catera-CTS-Saturn-Vue-L-series-Thermostat-Housing-W-Thermostat-55353492-/200914781107?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec77443b3&vxp=mtr
$64 to your door, or just over £40 in real money, guaranteed to bolt straight on, no cutting bolts etc...

[Nick W]

.... Which makes the £17 cost and  ...

 assume that's just for the innards  .... bear in mind that the stat housing & transfer tube might now have 'rusted' into a single item & might need one or the other destroying for removal

No, that was for the housing. In a Wahler box, and some one had made a very half hearted attempt to grind the GM marking off it. When the internals are a tenner, and with the possibility of damaging the housing I don't see the point in doing it any other way

[biggriffin]

The last one i bought cost £18 was a whaller,the gm number had been sanded off,and came with new o'ring. And as a safty net have a spare transfer pipe and seals handy azwell,just in case it gets broke in removel(temper)

[amba]

Got a genuine GM part some months ago from a VX dealing clearing old stock for £16 inc delivery so nice result and yes it does have the thicker 18mm flange fittings
Pushed the boat out and bought transfer pipe/2 new bolts which cost another £17 so with a bit of coolant which is in stock in the shed should get it done complete for less than £40
If it's dry and sunny tomorrow will make a welcome break from decorating and listening to those bloody carols 

[05omegav6]

Nice one