87 or 90 degree thermostat ?

[enrm6]

Ok, quick follow-up. I thought that this probably wasn't right, so for a few pounds I thought I'd bite the bullet and replace the thermostat. Ordered one from Eurocarparts 87 deg by the way - both Euro and GSF only offered 87deg. Did the job Sat morning and was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was. Incidentally the one I took out was 90deg. Anyhow. The car now warms up much faster and stays at the (just fractionally above) 3 o'clock position on the guage.

So my advice if you are concerned it to replace it, it is cheap and easy.

Nice one Russ. What should I be looking to pay and is it minutes or a couple of hours?

Out of interest can you let us know what differences if any you notice? EG fuel consumption, performance, etc. Also when you say the car warms up faster, do you mean the gauge reads quicker or the actual temp inside the car??

Certainly seems to be big confusion over 87 or 90 degree, reading the previous posts. Some say only could get 90 some liek you 87? Any masters out there know?

Always good to hear a success story!

[enrm6]

I paid £5ish for the t'stat and £1.50 for the rubber seal from Eurocarparts. Add £5 x( P&P (though to be fair it was next day and a Saturday too). They were £6ish from GSF with no mention of the seal so I asusme they were included. Both sites only had 87deg t'stats. I have also seen elsewhere that this is the correct value. I read that 87deg is for warmer climates and 90deg for colder (and not UK cold but Sweden cold). I can't possibly see that 3degs makes much difference.

The job took me a couple of hours on a Saturday morning. However, whilst I had the right tools I have not really worked on the car before so I was a tad apprehensive. I'm sure I could repeat the job in 30mins.

You can look at the volvospeed site to see how to do it or look in the Haynes manual. The only thing I would add is that neither mention that you dont have to drain all the coolant. You only need to drain it from the radiator, and two-ish pints should do the job. Also just put the coolant that you drained back in when you are finished. I don't think you need to replace it. I'm sure I read somewhere that Volvo's is lifetime stuff but regardless it looked clean with not particulates or any other nastiness in it.

I found the removed thermostat to look ok, certainly not catastophically broken like some of the pictures I have seen. Though it does look bent. Whilst I cannot say if the old one is broken for sure as I have not done the boil test, I have definitely noticed some difference in the car.

The car's temp guage now warms to just above 3 o'clock in about 3mins? I haven't timed it. As an example I have a 1.5 mile drive to Sainsburys from my house. If I start the car and go, the car is warm by the time I get there. Before it was not, in fact sometimes the guage may barely have moved at all. I originally put this down to it being very cold outside and it being a very short drive.

Also, the heaters produce warm air faster than they did before. So the car is warmer inside and out in a much shorter time after starting. So regardless of the lack of any empirical evidence I think the job is well worth doing for £12 worth of parts and an hour of labour.

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/thermect.htm

Hi all
After reading all the posts I thought my stat needs doing too!Quick lunchtime job.Got out my brand new 40 torx bit attached it to extension bar and promptly dropped it into the bowels of the engine never to be seen again.Do like the bay 13 says and use a long bit to get on the back bolt because there isn't quite enough room for a standard bit!!!!;(
Lesson learnt!

Cheers Colin

[Mike Smith]

Hi Colin
Good tip, about to do mine this weekend, cheers!
Regarding 87 or 90 degree stats, just ordered mine and Europarts say the turbo engines have 87 degree and non turbo have 90 degrees!
Also main dealer quoted £30 - £40 for the stat - Europarts £12 includin P&P at £4.99!! can't be bad

Regards
Mike Smith
----------
96 850 GLT

[Dan F]

I know it is a different sort of car, but our Suzuki Swift recently had a new t/stat and the difference it made to the cars running was immense!!
All the luminess in the acceleration had gone, and the fuel consumption has gone down, mainly due to the ECU now letting the car get out of 'warm-up/cold' mode.

The gauge actually moves as well now! *Big* difference for tiny cash.
Feels like a different motor.

Later,
Dan.

My only slight concern was that I didnt use a pukka volvo part but at 5 quid if it only lasts a year it was money well spent.Incidentally I got mine from local motor factor off the shelf.If you cant find a long 40 torx bit you can get a torx screwdriver. (get one wth a hole through the handle for leverage)
I havn't checked my mpg exactly but I feel sure its improved, the warm up time certainly has!
Later. Colin

I'm having mine changed tomorrow at GB autos in Cheam, while I wait. A 60 mile round trip on the motorway to Gatwick this morning gave consumption of between 24-25mpg. Temp gauge still not levelling and car takes ages to warm inside. I'll post the results after (and then go and celebrate the crushing victory over Wales down my local cricket club)

All done (Ind. Volvo specialist GB Autos Cheam Surrey 02083306090) about £40. Excellent service and quick too.

Runs much smoother, no lumpiness and fuel consumption seems to have improved but time will tell.

not too crushing! lol