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From what I have read, the radiator hose connected to the thermostat should get hot quickly within a few minute of start-up as the thermostat opens and circulates hot coolant from the engine to the radiator.
What about the other hose? Does it get equally hot? Or is it cooler?
On my 94 Honda Accord, the thermostat is connected to lower radiator hose. But it is the upper hose that gets hot after a start-up. The lower hose gets hot too, but not as hot as the upper hose. Is this normal?
Can some of you test your hoses a few minutes after start-up to see which one gets hotter or if they are equally hot? Thanks.
The lower hose is for coolant to return to the block after it has been cooled by the radiator. So yes it will be cooler. Heat rises so it is in a practical position.
Wow, you have answered my question and then some. I somehow have it in my head that the thermostat opens to allow engine coolant into the radiator through the hose it is attached to. Clearly this is not the case with the 94 Accord. In this case, I imagine, the thermostat opens to allow radiator coolant to enter the engine. Big rep point for you. Thanks.
Wow, you have answered my question and then some. I somehow have it in my head that the thermostat opens to allow engine coolant into the radiator through the hose it is attached to. Clearly this is not the case with the 94 Accord. In this case, I imagine, the thermostat opens to allow radiator coolant to enter the engine. Big rep point for you. Thanks.
The thermostat just prevents circulation through the radiator, doesn't really matter if its on the input or output side.
I somehow have it in my head that the thermostat opens to allow engine coolant into the radiator through the hose it is attached to.
The therrmostat is designed to open at a certain temp say 180-195 degrees. Once this happens, hot water from the engine moves into the radiator and cooled water from the radiator is pumped into the engine. If you have a temp gauge, you can view this happening, the temp gauge will move up to some where around 180-200 and then drop very quickly to something like 160-180. Etc. The engine is also designed to run at a certain temp, usually around 180-195 and anything cooler could actually hurt the engine by creating hotspots in the cyclinders.
As for radiator hoses, the top hose is genally hotter and breaks the most. In the event a radiator does break, DO NOT open the radiator cap!! The cap and water is EXTREMELY HOT!! This was or steam could shoot out or spary every where if cap is removed before allowed to cool.
The temp gauge on my Accord does up to about 3:30 and stays there the whole time. It does not drop.
What are the symptoms of a thermostat failure?
One that's stuck open mean both hoses feel the same?
One that's stuck closed mean....?
Thanks again.
Genreally, one that's stuck open will take a lot longer for the engine to get up to normal temparature, and one that stuck closed will cause the engine to overheat.
Genreally, one that's stuck open will take a lot longer for the engine to get up to normal temparature, and one that stuck closed will cause the engine to overheat.
True.
OP: Stuck open the engine never really gets to full warmed up, operational temps, but will run ok anyway.
A stuck closed t stat will raise hell very quickly, and either tip off the rad cap and blow coolant all over, or blow the top hose.
Your Honda has a odd location, as most other engines have the t stat mounted high near the engine top, and closer to the rad.
it doesn't realy matter as was stated. In yuour case the engine heats up and that temp opens the T stat to flow. The water pump is what makes the flow, that and the fact heat rises.
The old Model T made by Ford had no water pump at all. It worked (not well) by just the fact heat rises, and it did circulate, or you would never see one in parades today.
1993 accord run properly for a few miles, then the temp goes just below the red line
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