Indicators of a Thermostat Housing Leak in Your Porsche
09 Dec, 19
The Porsche is one of the most widely-admired pieces of German engineering and is known around the world as a high-performance car made by one of the most reliable automotive manufacturers in the world. Although it surely lives up to this with every new model released, there are some models that have been vulnerable to a few malfunctions.
One of the most common problems you may see come up with your Porsche is leaking thermostat housing. The thermostat housing is a critical component of your engine which is responsible for regulating the temperature of your engine. As the name suggests, the thermostat housing carries the vehicle’s thermostat, which is integral to keeping your engine cool for safe operation. More specifically, it regulates the flow of coolant throughout your engine.
Preventing your engine from overheating is essential to a vehicle’s long life as well as a safe driving experience for you. Excessive heat can damage your vehicle and potentially render it unable to be operated. A few signs of a leaking thermostat housing in your Porsche are the temperature gauge reading very high, rapid changes in temperature, and coolant leaks. Remain attentive to your vehicle’s performance to ensure you catch these issues as early as possible.
Signs and Symptoms of a Leaking Thermostat Housing
The thermostat housing is pretty self-explanatory in that its purpose is to contain the thermostat in the engine and regulate the release of coolant throughout the engine. Therefore, any issue with the thermostat housing will directly affect the temperature of your engine. Additionally, it may be difficult to determine whether the problems are reflective of the thermostat housing or thermostat on its own.
As there are many possible causes behind the fluctuating or extreme temperatures in your engine, it is vital that you report any observations of the following symptoms to a professional to avoid a possible misdiagnosis.
High Readings on Temperature Gauge
With a leaking thermostat housing, the distribution of coolant throughout your engine will be severely compromised. With no coolant flowing or a significantly reduced amount, your engine is vulnerable to excessive heat and will produce high readings on your temperature gauge.
Fluctuating Temperature Readings
Another way the compromised flow of coolant in your engine will manifest is in highly inconsistent temperatures. Your engine will still be vulnerable to high temperatures. However, if the thermostat and thermostat housing are still partially functional, it may sporadically perform better at some moments as compared to others. This will produce fluctuating temperatures.
Coolant Leaks
This is the most straight-forward effect of a leaking thermostat housing, as it is unable to properly regulate the flow of coolant throughout your engine. This may produce leaks that you can identify either by fluid under your vehicle and/or white smoke being expelled from your exhaust.
Can you still drive with a leaking thermostat housing?
It is possible to drive with a leaking thermostat housing, but it is strongly advised that you avoid doing so. This because the more you drive your Porsche without the proper mechanisms to protect your engine from excessive heat, it will ultimately lead to potentially irreversible damage to your engine. In order to prevent greater damage being done to your car over time, it is best to bring your vehicle to a service technician as soon as possible. This can help keep your repair costs down and extend the life of other parts in your car.
Schedule an Appointment at Santa Barbara Autowerks
Here at Santa Barbara Autowerks, we understand how important your vehicle is to you. Your vehicle is a large investment and integral to your daily life, so it’s best that you are able to trust your mechanics as much as possible when in need of a repair.
A leaking thermostat housing can be damaging to your vehicle’s performance and your safety while driving. Let the expert technicians at Santa Barbara Autowerks help you in keeping your vehicle in excellent condition. Our mechanics are dedicated to delivering the highest quality German automotive repair and maintenance, along with the best customer service experiences.
You can locate our skilled service technicians in Santa Barbara, CA. Call today or stop by for high-quality service to your Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Mini Cooper, Porsche, or Volkswagen.