⬇️ Things used in this video: 1. AT 205 Reseal: amzn.to/2Iss794 2. Temperature Sensor: amzn.to/2XojzE9 3. Common Sense 4. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2HkjavH 5. Camera Microphone: amzn.to/2Evn167 6. Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2Jwog8S 7. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2uUZ3lo ⬇️Scotty’s Top DIY Tools: 1. Bluetooth Scan Tool: amzn.to/2nfvmaD 2. Cheap Scan Tool: amzn.to/2D8Tvae 3. Basic Mechanic Tool Set: amzn.to/2tEr6Ce 4. Professional Socket Set: amzn.to/2Bzmccg 5. Ratcheting Wrench Set: amzn.to/2BQjj8A 6. No Charging Required Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/2CthnUU 7. Battery Pack Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/2nrc6qR 🛠Check out the tools I use and highly recommend ► goo.gl/rwYt2y 🔥Scotty Shirts and Merch ► goo.gl/pTAeca Subscribe and hit the notification bell! ► goo.gl/CFismN Scotty on Social: Facebook ► facebook.com/scottymechanic/ Instagram ► instagram.com/scotty_the_mechanic/ Twitter ► twitter.com/Scottymechanic?lang=en
Scotty Kilmer oh yeah, tell me about it. I have a 2004 dodge dakota and I was driving down the road going to visit my family which live like 30 minutes away and when I got there I noticed it wasn't running right so I opened the hood and sure enough my coolant hose was all swollen and coolant had leaked everywhere. I opened the engine cap and did notice a lot of smoke and little condensation building on the cap. Right away I knew I blew my head gasket, I just wish I knew that the thermostat was the problem. I was just starting to work on my own cars at the time so I had little experience. Week after sure enough my friend told me the thermostat was the problem. The thing was fine the day before and the day after I guess it gave up. Also do you know how to fix the temperature gauge on a truck like that, I barely drive it now. Thanks for the advice without it I don't think I would have known that there's Head Gasket Sealers.
My father was a mechanic. He passed and I quickly realized...how lucky I was not only to have an amazing father but how lucky I was I never worried about being taken advantage of by some mechanics or how I never worried about the upkeep of our cars in general. All of it... the struggle is real. Its hard to find a honest good mechanic that is truly trying to help fix your car and keep you safe. 40 Years later I finally met a good man that is very helpful and doesn't mind teaching me. But ....we are always learning right.
I learned about cars from a high school summer class. Self taught myself from there. That was 51 yrs ago but I’m still doing most repast home. Saved me a lot of $$ over the years and provided me confidence. Take a class!
I am a father of 5 kids. My older Son is 34. My youngest daughter is 7. I do a lot of myself to repair. And I want to thank you gentleman for your warm words to your Father. ❤
1 change thermostat every 4-5 yrs 2 check radiator cap, change 4-5 yrs 3 spray radiator with rubber rejuvenator AT 205 Reseal 4 clean radiator & condenser fins 5 make sure both fans run (set A/C to max & watch) 6 change coolant @ recommended interval) 7 check radiator for consistent heat with heat gun - replace if modern radiator and doesn't flush well ☺
This man is a WISE mechanic over 50 years I have learned several tips watching him, I'm starting to pay more attention, since my cars are older.THANK YOU
@@roderickmacpherson6737 There's a mute button on the lower left part of the screen. If you watch Scotty's vids long enough you could probably tell what he's saying by the way he waves his arms.
Dear Scotty you saved my behind the again I had taken my vehicle to the mechanic because I had a radiator leak after I took it to the mechanic to get a fuel line replaced 7 Days Later it started leaking radiator fluid. The man said it was my water pump while I have a 2000 Intrepid. The water pump is with the timing chain. And I have been pumping money into this car because I love this car come to find out all I had was a crack in the upper part of the radiator by the hose I almostjunked my car something told me to Trace the leak lo and behold I found it. This man try to screw me over $1,235. I even told him I have some knowledge about cars I just don't have the tools or the time. Bless you Scotty you keep up the good work🤜🤛
@@kingfreedom1863I'm a 68 yrs old woman and Scotty has saved me from a royal you know what. I've caught 2 mechanics trying to rob my bank account like you mentioned by watching Scotty's videos. He's a rip off mechanics worst enemy. Lol
@chavale2 well of course as a father this is what we do we pass that down what I'm saying when I say mandatory i mean if you do not have at least the basic knowledge of this you shouldn't have keys to a vehicle
Another tip for modern cars. Use distilled water or 50/50 pre-diluted mix when refilling. Using tap water with concentrate will shorten the lifespan of the coolant, and if left unmaintained for an extended amount of time, it'll start etching the aluminum inside of the engine. Eventually clogging the radiator, and eating away the surfaces near the head gasket.
I agree and it should be changed regularly because the pH drops with time and the coolant becomes extremely acidic. Bad for the cooling system and the engine. @@patricktomaszewski2063
Great advice! I realize just how fortunate I have been as the the last 3 cars I've owned I put over 200k miles on each, never changed a thermostat and didn't have a problem. Time to up my preventative maintenance routine as it is much better to spend a few bucks to prevent being stuck alongside the road for something so inexpensive.
Preventive maintenance is key it's how a car or truck will keep you happy...it makes me cringe watching people just keep beating on a vehicle And not checking fluids and keeping up on simple maintenance .... A friends truck started making a ticking noise and I asked how long has it been since she changed oil and had no idea so I checked it and it had nothing reading on dipstick I instantly filled it up with oil and lucky for her noise went away but if I didn't check it that day truck had probably 50 miles before it expired got sooooo lucky
This is why I always use OE Toyota thermostats in my Land Cruiser. They're designed to fail in the open position if they ever do fail. I had one fail on me back in the late 90s, and my engine never warmed up.
2:30 as a german mechanic i agree here with Scotty ! our cars have become to complicatet and reliability decrease with every new gimmick they put in! . After 20 years of AUDI i switched to a good old V6 na design from Toyota/Lexus with high km on it but hey that engines oil is still shiny after 5000km ! In a new TFSI engine from AUDI/VW your oil gets dirty after a few hundred km !
I have 2007 octavia vrs tfsi, over 310,000 km oil still stays clean for a long time. Only mobil 1 from new. Recently removed sump just to check oil pickup and everything was very clean, very impressed. I thought I would hate it, very complex, some stuff is stupid plastic or low quality bolts (new radiator held in with cable ties!) but overall its been good to me.
@@nothanks3462 most TFSI have huge problems with oil consumption because the oil rings went dirty from carbon deposits due to DI . More than that many run bad at idel and some even dont pass the 2 year state emission check in europe. good to hear some runs fine but there is also a huge difference in driving with speedlimits and here in germany where all idiots drive like crazy on autobahn. TFSI engines have a turbo+a little supercharger (compressor) .....2 expensive parts beside all the other little things to keep the powertrain running. Not my taste.
Yeah.. I am from India.. Is it true the cooling system in VW /skoda cars are not up-to the mark? I have a Mk I Octavia, I recently changed its thermost valve.
It’s a good idea to also replace the rubber radiator mounting “grommets” when you replace the cap. In high ozone areas (cities and metropolitan areas), the rubber hardens and shrinks over time. This allows the radiator to rattle on its mounts and the plastic top part to break free of the metal core - allowing fluid to leak out. Just change the rubber mounting grommets. They are cheap and easy to replace.
Really good info Scotty! I’m replacing the thermostat in my old Land Cruiser today. The hardest part of it was that I broke one of the bolts that hold the two pieces of the thermostat together. I was able to get it out by tapping on it with a brass hammer, and then used a Vise-Grip pliers to carefully remove it. Now I have to reconnect the hoses, fill with distilled water and coolant, check for leaks, etc. Your videos are great!
Also if you're the one changing your own coolant, use distilled water if not using a pre-mix. Crap from tap or well water could very well be one of those things that accelerates corrosion and build-up inside the cooling system passages or alters the chemistry enough to shorten the expected coolant lifespan. It's not too expensive in the scheme of things, and it's a tiny bit of extra insurance.
Worth pointing out.. most thermostats work using a heat-spring.. if your car has recently overheated, or seen an unusually frigid winter outdoors, anything giving it an especially drastic temperature differential, that heat spring can lose its tempering or crack. Usually it still works but not 'well'. It can overwork the cooling system, and put it on a fast track to another failure. So if you park outside in a frozen wasteland, replace it every spring. And if you overheat from a leaking hose or something, its a good idea to change the thermostat at the same time, even though it wasn't at fault. Also if you live where its warm year round, consider just removing the thermostat.
You’re a car genius and an entertainer. Thank you for your information 👏🏻 I’m a single mom and have always taken care of my cars for the most part. Your advice is appreciated 🙏🏼🎉
Great advice. There are many parts that I will only use OEM parts on. A trick I use is to use heavy duty silicone spray which is actually light and clear. I spray it on radiators, the front of my motorcycle, and car bumper. Bugs can then be washed off easily.
100% agree with the OE Thermostat replacement. I had a Honda where the thermostat is in a plastic housing. The aftermarket plastic cracked and was running cold in the winter.
I can relate to your Celica as I owned 2,the 77 GT and 80' fastbacks. My current everyday is 94' 300ZX na manual,have had it 15 years. Its good to have a car without hundreds of more feet of wiring and un-needed sensors and electrical gizmos,gadgets and whizz bang options.
You are a pure genius. I'm only watching you 2 days and I've already learned so much from you! Wow! The polymer sprayed on hoses is genius. Going to do that! Ok here's what happened to me. I have a 1993 Toyota Camry 2.2 in really good shape, but with 203K miles. The car used to run super cool on the temp guage and I noticed my radiator cap was old and the rubber was falling apart, so I went and bought a new one, slapped it on, go out that very night, bam! I overheat. Had to be towed home. My mechanic said I blew out my thermostat because my car was "used to" the lower pressure in my system..? Then when I replaced the cap, now it created such high pressure, my thermostat locked up. Is this true?? My car still runs great BUT now the temp guage is always in the middle normal range, instead of way low like I was used to. Oh well, live and learn.
The OEM radiator cap on my Honda has been working flawlessly for 18 years and 193k miles, ditto for the hoses, and the water pump. All I had to do was follow the advice on this video + changing the coolant on time.
For thermostats it's also a good idea to drill a hole through the outer ring, won't dramatically alter warming up, but can keep your engine from going boom if it gets stuck shut
@ You know there are thermostats designed with a pin hole to allow some flow in the event of the unit seizing shut, right? Nah, I guess I'll just pull all the aftermarket and modified parts and replace them with the oem plastic junk and parts that are documented as failure prone, because, as you implied, the manufacturers know best
I used to do this with every thermostat, on the ones that didn't already come with a bypass/bleed hole. But recently I've found that this increases the length of time it takes the engine to warm up. That doesn't bother me, but the engine computer actually times the warm-up interval and if it takes to long, it will throw a code. Happened to me just last week and a new "undrilled" thermostat fixed it. For emission reasons, manufacturers want the engines to heat up quickly.
I used to change out my thermostats. I remember having to check to see if they would open and close properly before installing them by putting them in a pot of water over the stove.
Great advice @5:35 for cooling fans. I had many vehicles with belt drive, instead of electronic drive. Both Camry fans went out at 200,000 miles. Replaced with new fans.
I just replaced the thermostat on my Toyota V6 a few months ago with the Toyota branded part. It was challenging but I got it done. Patiently burped all the air out of the system so easily with one of those coolant flush kits on Amazon. Temp gauge is reading perfectly again, no fluctuations.
In the islands, we remove the thermostat. The only draw back is that it takes a while to warm/heat up which is fine. We also convert out radiator to a brass and copper tank. And for flushing, we do LavRamon every 4 years! I know people who haven't changed radiators or water pump in 25 years.
We had a local shop where a 80ish year old man would clean and restore your old radiators (assuming they weren't obliterated). You'd pull them yourself and take the unit to him, and he kept it for a few days then called you when it was ready. Great shop! Fixed a few of my dad's rads and fixed my rad twice. Costed a fraction compared to a new radiator! RIP awesome radiator fixer guy!
I may have missed it, but how often do you spray the car's rubber hoses with AT-205 reseal- to keep them lasting longer? Great tips Scotty! Keep em' coming!!
@@omartinoco9930 I totally agree with Scotty, some critical parts you want OEM. Other parts you save a ton buying third party. When I replaced a bumper cover on my Corolla the dealership wanted over $300 for it. Bought one online from a company that makes them in Michigan for $60 and it fit fine.
Scotty--I make a practice of turning on the heater at least once a week, even in the summer, to circulate the coolant that's stashed in the heater circuit. I recently lost the plastic radiator on my 2001 Lexus IS300, but have not otherwise had any heating/cooling incidents in the 96,000 miles I have on the car. Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach, California.
Nobody pops up the hood so many times in a week, on their Toyota Celica.....only Scotty does🤣🤣🤣 twice a day. And the BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners🤣🤣🤣. Great video Scotty. Watch til you here in Norway🇧🇻
We are all to bless you, Scotty. The Video Lesson from Scotty Kilmer the Mechanic Knowledges of Basic levels, MUST be included in the High School Program Nationwide in the USA. I was born and graduated from High School in Ukraine. In High School, I took The Construction Machine and Tractor Operator and Machine Mechanic classes. I had a license and a profession at 18 years old already. When I moved to the USA I got a CDL because I know how to do it and have the knowledge of how to do it correctly. In the USA a millions of children are growing up in families of single moms or even in a full family where children can not gain general knowledge about how and what to do with their vehicles. As a result of poor knowledge or its absence, we see breakdown cars on the shoulders of the roadways and they create interference and are a threat to the car owner and all road users.
Yes! AT 205 Does work. I have a front seal going on my Dodge ram 4.7 are used AT 205 300 miles later fixed , and I sprayed on all my rubber like you suggest it works. Thanks for the tip Scotty.
Radiator caps are super important. Improper pressure not only overheats but if pressure is too high it can wear out heater cores and water pumps faster. High pressure looks for the weakest link in the system and cause leaks.
Yeah, damaged hoses I've replaced were deteriorating from the inside. If you see black gunk when you open the radiator cap, reservoir, or surge tank, you've got bad hose somewhere.
I'll stick with the fail-safe thermostats. Had one fail just recently, they fail in the open position. Heater didn't work so good, engine was fine, just drove it gently for a couple of days until I could change the stat during the weekend.
I have a 2003 cadillac deville which has been a maintenance nightmare!. I have had the thermastat replaced, after replacing the reservoir which was replaced 3 times. Replaced the radiator 2 times and the water pump replaced with in the last 3 years. I replaced the driver belt and water pump belt and tensioner. After that the car still over heated and lost all the antifreeze. Pulled over and let it cool and added 2 gallons of antifreeze. No more leaks but drove to get a diagnosis right away. Told I need a water pump and radiator and replace gaskets on cylinder head crossover pipe. Told to replace the thermostat which I said I did already. Could an over heat cause damage to the thermastat and could replacing the tensioner cause a misalignment causing damage to the water pump?
I have a similar story, with water pump, thermostat etc replaced in the past year and the mechanic said I probably had an air pocket in the line when I brought my car in overheating. So he bled the system. This was done this morning, so we shall see. So far so good.
Yup- local water can be high in minerals- probably not a big problem unless you live in a state that allows oil fracking. Use distilled in your car battery too.
Most premixed antifreeze is about the same as buying it undiluted. I get that more for the convenience of bot having to measure and dilute. I do usually flush the system with some plain distilled water.
AT205.. Same idea as 303. I put "303 Protectant" on tires that were starting to get small surface cracks from sitting years. The tires look like new now. Just don't breath it in or get it on yourself. It doesn't smell toxic but supposedly is toxic.
Thermostats used to be mounted on top of the engine and were easily replaceable. Nowadays the manufacturers are looking out for the dealerships instead of the car buyer so they mount thermostats in hard to get at spots. Replacing a thermostat used to be a 10 minute job. Now it can take hours.
I took 3 hrs to drive 7 klm to a radiator repair guy when i got there it had no fan belt either. No proublem with the head, but then again it was a Toyota. I drove 1minute parked 15. A nightmare. You da man scotty
While a car wash spray wand may not damage your radiator, using your own high pressure power washer can damage the radiator's delicate aluminum cooling fins! I know after seeing an HVAC technician's video explaining how some people damage their home air conditioner's condenser. Apparently you can use the right brush to reverse some of the damage when this happens.
Use a piece of window screen between your grill and radiator. You will never have a bugs clogging your radiator again. Scotty thanks for all your help over the years.
What a coincidence Today I changed the thermostat, radiator cap and coolant in my hayabusa as a preventive maintenance service Picked up phone and this video poped up Cheers
Best thing about my old Pontiac is the thermostat is right under the radiator cap so you gotta take it out every time you fill up the radiator. Literally can't avoid inspecting it every time you check your coolant, which I had to do a lot because the radiator drained a quart of coolant by the time you got the cap screwed back on.
I am a living proof that he is right. I drive maruti alto 800 and anyone can tell a person driving that car must love the car as his prized possession and drive it very very cautiously. Despite that my car's thermostat valve broke after 4 and half years of driving. I guess it is its nature to last that long. So better change it before it breaks if natural causes.
⬇️ Things used in this video:
1. AT 205 Reseal: amzn.to/2Iss794
2. Temperature Sensor: amzn.to/2XojzE9
3. Common Sense
4. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2HkjavH
5. Camera Microphone: amzn.to/2Evn167
6. Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2Jwog8S
7. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2uUZ3lo
⬇️Scotty’s Top DIY Tools:
1. Bluetooth Scan Tool: amzn.to/2nfvmaD
2. Cheap Scan Tool: amzn.to/2D8Tvae
3. Basic Mechanic Tool Set: amzn.to/2tEr6Ce
4. Professional Socket Set: amzn.to/2Bzmccg
5. Ratcheting Wrench Set: amzn.to/2BQjj8A
6. No Charging Required Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/2CthnUU
7. Battery Pack Car Jump Starter: amzn.to/2nrc6qR
🛠Check out the tools I use and highly recommend ► goo.gl/rwYt2y
🔥Scotty Shirts and Merch ► goo.gl/pTAeca
Subscribe and hit the notification bell! ► goo.gl/CFismN
Scotty on Social:
Facebook ► facebook.com/scottymechanic/
Instagram ► instagram.com/scotty_the_mechanic/
Twitter ► twitter.com/Scottymechanic?lang=en
Hey Scotty. Do you know exactly where the radiator cap is for a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero 3.4L engine?
We need you thoughts regarding BI Turbo engine of ford or other brands, do you recommend it? why and why? Thanks!
You said last forever, then you said, last as long as possible.
Scotty Kilmer oh yeah, tell me about it. I have a 2004 dodge dakota and I was driving down the road going to visit my family which live like 30 minutes away and when I got there I noticed it wasn't running right so I opened the hood and sure enough my coolant hose was all swollen and coolant had leaked everywhere. I opened the engine cap and did notice a lot of smoke and little condensation building on the cap. Right away I knew I blew my head gasket, I just wish I knew that the thermostat was the problem. I was just starting to work on my own cars at the time so I had little experience. Week after sure enough my friend told me the thermostat was the problem. The thing was fine the day before and the day after I guess it gave up. Also do you know how to fix the temperature gauge on a truck like that, I barely drive it now. Thanks for the advice without it I don't think I would have known that there's Head Gasket Sealers.
Scotty Kilmer can u use that on the belts to🤔that spray u have
My father was a mechanic. He passed and I quickly realized...how lucky I was not only to have an amazing father but how lucky I was I never worried about being taken advantage of by some mechanics or how I never worried about the upkeep of our cars in general. All of it... the struggle is real.
Its hard to find a honest good mechanic that is truly trying to help fix your car and keep you safe.
40 Years later I finally met a good man that is very helpful and doesn't mind teaching me. But ....we are always learning right.
I learned about cars from a high school summer class. Self taught myself from there. That was 51 yrs ago but I’m still doing most repast home. Saved me a lot of $$ over the years and provided me confidence. Take a class!
Aa
I am a father of 5 kids. My older Son is 34. My youngest daughter is 7.
I do a lot of myself to repair.
And I want to thank you gentleman for your warm words to your Father. ❤
I’ve done so much to my car because of Scotty Kilmer’s teachers. I love it I can relate.
Been saying wish my grandpa had a mechanic,but we chopped alot of cotton back in the day, have to work a little hard on this old cars
1 change thermostat every 4-5 yrs
2 check radiator cap, change 4-5 yrs
3 spray radiator with rubber rejuvenator AT 205 Reseal
4 clean radiator & condenser fins
5 make sure both fans run (set A/C to max & watch)
6 change coolant @ recommended interval)
7 check radiator for consistent heat with heat gun - replace if modern radiator and doesn't flush well ☺
Spay radiator with rubber rejuvenator at 205 reseal
Matt Kind he forgot to mention the temperature coolant sensor.
Matt Kind Thank you mister.
Not the radiator the radiator hoses....
Buy POS
1)Change nothing
This man is a WISE mechanic over 50 years I have learned several tips watching him, I'm starting to pay more attention, since my cars are older.THANK YOU
I swear to God, two more month of watching this guy’s videos, I’m going to open my own car service shop. Lol!
I purposely break my car just so I can visit his shop.
Please dont
You better vilivet
Ahhhhhh
Same!!!!
What I like about you, Scotty, is that you are always honest and I appreciate that!
“Suddenly I’m into Golfing” image. Lmao
Scotty you are the best at explaining all this while making it fun and entertaining. Best channel out there!
I'll be listening to his serious stuff, but then see his funny images up too and just have to start laughing! They're perfect and soooooo creative!
That was a great one!
I wish I could find a mechanic like Scotty. U r the best Scotty!!
@Junior I wish he would stop talking.
@@roderickmacpherson6737 There's a mute button on the lower left part of the screen. If you watch Scotty's vids long enough you could probably tell what he's saying by the way he waves his arms.
You can, go to Austin, TX and ask about Gary Garrison!!
I don't think they make them like that any more. I'm with you.
And it doesn’t hurt that he’s cute, too
Dear Scotty you saved my behind the again I had taken my vehicle to the mechanic because I had a radiator leak after I took it to the mechanic to get a fuel line replaced 7 Days Later it started leaking radiator fluid. The man said it was my water pump while I have a 2000 Intrepid. The water pump is with the timing chain. And I have been pumping money into this car because I love this car come to find out all I had was a crack in the upper part of the radiator by the hose I almostjunked my car something told me to Trace the leak lo and behold I found it. This man try to screw me over $1,235. I even told him I have some knowledge about cars I just don't have the tools or the time. Bless you Scotty you keep up the good work🤜🤛
There was nothing wrong with the water pump
@@kingfreedom1863I'm a 68 yrs old woman and Scotty has saved me from a royal you know what. I've caught 2 mechanics trying to rob my bank account like you mentioned by watching Scotty's videos. He's a rip off mechanics worst enemy. Lol
As usual, Scotty is spot on. Scotty's videos should be mandatory for every high school student.
I feel that brother They should also be mandatory for every first time car owner
@@MrThesmacka They should be taught at year 6; That is life
@chavale2 well of course as a father this is what we do we pass that down what I'm saying when I say mandatory i mean if you do not have at least the basic knowledge of this you shouldn't have keys to a vehicle
It is the Gold idea!
Another tip for modern cars. Use distilled water or 50/50 pre-diluted mix when refilling. Using tap water with concentrate will shorten the lifespan of the coolant, and if left unmaintained for an extended amount of time, it'll start etching the aluminum inside of the engine. Eventually clogging the radiator, and eating away the surfaces near the head gasket.
Use Pre Mix as its far safer and mixed properly in a clean facility.
I agree and it should be changed regularly because the pH drops with time and the coolant becomes extremely acidic. Bad for the cooling system and the engine. @@patricktomaszewski2063
Great advice! I realize just how fortunate I have been as the the last 3 cars I've owned I put over 200k miles on each, never changed a thermostat and didn't have a problem. Time to up my preventative maintenance routine as it is much better to spend a few bucks to prevent being stuck alongside the road for something so inexpensive.
Preventive maintenance is key it's how a car or truck will keep you happy...it makes me cringe watching people just keep beating on a vehicle And not checking fluids and keeping up on simple maintenance .... A friends truck started making a ticking noise and I asked how long has it been since she changed oil and had no idea so I checked it and it had nothing reading on dipstick I instantly filled it up with oil and lucky for her noise went away but if I didn't check it that day truck had probably 50 miles before it expired got sooooo lucky
You're a legend Scotty. I know more than my own qualified motor mechanic after watching your videos over the years.
You're amazing.
This is why I always use OE Toyota thermostats in my Land Cruiser. They're designed to fail in the open position if they ever do fail. I had one fail on me back in the late 90s, and my engine never warmed up.
Scotty actually makes auto mechanics interesting. Now I will be able to sit here long enough and actually learn something...
THANKS MAN!!!
So much mechanic wisdom. Saving engines one home at a time. You rock
2:30 as a german mechanic i agree here with Scotty ! our cars have become to complicatet and reliability decrease with every new gimmick they put in! . After 20 years of AUDI i switched to a good old V6 na design from Toyota/Lexus with high km on it but hey that engines oil is still shiny after 5000km ! In a new TFSI engine from AUDI/VW your oil gets dirty after a few hundred km !
kubanskiloewe Which is the power output per liter difference between those engines? :)
I have 2007 octavia vrs tfsi, over 310,000 km oil still stays clean for a long time. Only mobil 1 from new. Recently removed sump just to check oil pickup and everything was very clean, very impressed. I thought I would hate it, very complex, some stuff is stupid plastic or low quality bolts (new radiator held in with cable ties!) but overall its been good to me.
@@nothanks3462 most TFSI have huge problems with oil consumption because the oil rings went dirty from carbon deposits due to DI . More than that many run bad at idel and some even dont pass the 2 year state emission check in europe. good to hear some runs fine but there is also a huge difference in driving with speedlimits and here in germany where all idiots drive like crazy on autobahn. TFSI engines have a turbo+a little supercharger (compressor) .....2 expensive parts beside all the other little things to keep the powertrain running. Not my taste.
Yeah.. I am from India.. Is it true the cooling system in VW /skoda cars are not up-to the mark? I have a Mk I Octavia, I recently changed its thermost valve.
@@nothanks3462 j
It’s a good idea to also replace the rubber radiator mounting “grommets” when you replace the cap. In high ozone areas (cities and metropolitan areas), the rubber hardens and shrinks over time. This allows the radiator to rattle on its mounts and the plastic top part to break free of the metal core - allowing fluid to leak out.
Just change the rubber mounting grommets. They are cheap and easy to replace.
Right on, good call.
Thank you body. I will do it.
Really good info Scotty! I’m replacing the thermostat in my old Land Cruiser today. The hardest part of it was that I broke one of the bolts that hold the two pieces of the thermostat together. I was able to get it out by tapping on it with a brass hammer, and then used a Vise-Grip pliers to carefully remove it. Now I have to reconnect the hoses, fill with distilled water and coolant, check for leaks, etc. Your videos are great!
Also if you're the one changing your own coolant, use distilled water if not using a pre-mix. Crap from tap or well water could very well be one of those things that accelerates corrosion and build-up inside the cooling system passages or alters the chemistry enough to shorten the expected coolant lifespan. It's not too expensive in the scheme of things, and it's a tiny bit of extra insurance.
Yes! Scotty should have mentioned that
Thanks Scotty, for all you do. I'd drive a thousand miles, to have you service my car.
ROADTRIP!!!! Hahaa
Or to tell you how effed you are with the car you may have😉😕🤪
Worth pointing out.. most thermostats work using a heat-spring.. if your car has recently overheated, or seen an unusually frigid winter outdoors, anything giving it an especially drastic temperature differential, that heat spring can lose its tempering or crack. Usually it still works but not 'well'. It can overwork the cooling system, and put it on a fast track to another failure. So if you park outside in a frozen wasteland, replace it every spring. And if you overheat from a leaking hose or something, its a good idea to change the thermostat at the same time, even though it wasn't at fault.
Also if you live where its warm year round, consider just removing the thermostat.
My favorite phrase "when I was a young mechanic ",love you uncle Scotty
I haven't changed my coolant for 15 years, no worries though, the car hasn't started in 10 years
Norman Bates 🤣🤣🤣
U and every American
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂
Volkswagen owner?
You’re a car genius and an entertainer. Thank you for your information 👏🏻 I’m a single mom and have always taken care of my cars for the most part. Your advice is appreciated 🙏🏼🎉
Great advice. There are many parts that I will only use OEM parts on. A trick I use is to use heavy duty silicone spray which is actually light and clear. I spray it on radiators, the front of my motorcycle, and car bumper. Bugs can then be washed off easily.
Plain cooking Pam in spray can also works , bugs wash off easier. ( love them June bugs )
100% agree with the OE Thermostat replacement. I had a Honda where the thermostat is in a plastic housing. The aftermarket plastic cracked and was running cold in the winter.
I can relate to your Celica as I owned 2,the 77 GT and 80' fastbacks. My current everyday is 94' 300ZX na manual,have had it 15 years. Its good to have a car without hundreds of more feet of wiring and un-needed sensors and electrical gizmos,gadgets and whizz bang options.
I hear that, my 1982 Jeep CJ-7 is so simple I can do about 95% of the work I need to get done on it.
You are a pure genius. I'm only watching you 2 days and I've already learned so much from you! Wow! The polymer sprayed on hoses is genius. Going to do that! Ok here's what happened to me. I have a 1993 Toyota Camry 2.2 in really good shape, but with 203K miles. The car used to run super cool on the temp guage and I noticed my radiator cap was old and the rubber was falling apart, so I went and bought a new one, slapped it on, go out that very night, bam! I overheat. Had to be towed home. My mechanic said I blew out my thermostat because my car was "used to" the lower pressure in my system..? Then when I replaced the cap, now it created such high pressure, my thermostat locked up. Is this true?? My car still runs great BUT now the temp guage is always in the middle normal range, instead of way low like I was used to. Oh well, live and learn.
Great advice. I buy my radiator cap and thermostat @ the Dealer. It cost more but so does my engine.
Radiator cap and thermostat at Toyota dealer $70 AUD in Australia
The OEM radiator cap on my Honda has been working flawlessly for 18 years and 193k miles, ditto for the hoses, and the water pump. All I had to do was follow the advice on this video + changing the coolant on time.
8 years , 200k , all original still going
Best advice.
Preventive maintenance.
I always find Scotty's videos very useful and sincere. Thanks and keep it up Scotty!
For thermostats it's also a good idea to drill a hole through the outer ring, won't dramatically alter warming up, but can keep your engine from going boom if it gets stuck shut
@ You know there are thermostats designed with a pin hole to allow some flow in the event of the unit seizing shut, right? Nah, I guess I'll just pull all the aftermarket and modified parts and replace them with the oem plastic junk and parts that are documented as failure prone, because, as you implied, the manufacturers know best
I used to do this with every thermostat, on the ones that didn't already come with a bypass/bleed hole. But recently I've found that this increases the length of time it takes the engine to warm up. That doesn't bother me, but the engine computer actually times the warm-up interval and if it takes to long, it will throw a code. Happened to me just last week and a new "undrilled" thermostat fixed it. For emission reasons, manufacturers want the engines to heat up quickly.
I used to change out my thermostats. I remember having to check to see if they would open and close properly before installing them by putting them in a pot of water over the stove.
Excellent video, Scotty. Great tips for those who don't realize maintenance is soooo important!
Great advice @5:35 for cooling fans. I had many vehicles with belt drive, instead of electronic drive. Both Camry fans went out at 200,000 miles. Replaced with new fans.
Scotty I love your show and being a guy that has to fix a lot of things myself I enjoy your perspective and your dry sense of humor it's awesome
I just replaced the thermostat on my Toyota V6 a few months ago with the Toyota branded part. It was challenging but I got it done. Patiently burped all the air out of the system so easily with one of those coolant flush kits on Amazon. Temp gauge is reading perfectly again, no fluctuations.
Wow by far my favorite mechanic on TH-cam. Thanks! Love all the creativity put into the video, keeps me hooked.
My daughter is an upcoming engineer and I really think you are helping her out sir 🤜
Damn right Scotty, I've had the thermostat valve replaced in my VW exactly how you've described
He really knows what he is talking about... all through actual experience.
Scott, you are my automobile guru! Amazing knowledge that is applied!
I like waiting for the thermostat, then limping home, with the windows down, and heat on max, on a 100F+ day. Done that twice. Fun stuff.
In the islands, we remove the thermostat. The only draw back is that it takes a while to warm/heat up which is fine.
We also convert out radiator to a brass and copper tank.
And for flushing, we do LavRamon every 4 years!
I know people who haven't changed radiators or water pump in 25 years.
I remove mine. Trinidad...
lastservant n
Cuba?
We had a local shop where a 80ish year old man would clean and restore your old radiators (assuming they weren't obliterated). You'd pull them yourself and take the unit to him, and he kept it for a few days then called you when it was ready. Great shop! Fixed a few of my dad's rads and fixed my rad twice. Costed a fraction compared to a new radiator! RIP awesome radiator fixer guy!
Wish I had known you when I was a young teen... or live near you, the things I would learn from you....
I may have missed it, but how often do you spray the car's rubber hoses with AT-205 reseal- to keep them lasting longer? Great tips Scotty! Keep em' coming!!
Thermostat - Make sure you buy OEM.
Radiator - Make sure you don't buy OEM.
Lmao
Scotty should make a video on which parts to buy oem, and which parts to buy after market.
@@davidjacobs8558 - He's done some videos where he talks about that sort of thing.
You are free to buy an $800 radiator from a dealership but they are just aluminum tubes encased in a plastic housing.
@@omartinoco9930 I totally agree with Scotty, some critical parts you want OEM. Other parts you save a ton buying third party. When I replaced a bumper cover on my Corolla the dealership wanted over $300 for it. Bought one online from a company that makes them in Michigan for $60 and it fit fine.
Scotty--I make a practice of turning on the heater at least once a week, even in the summer, to circulate the coolant that's stashed in the heater circuit. I recently lost the plastic radiator on my 2001 Lexus IS300, but have not otherwise had any heating/cooling incidents in the 96,000 miles I have on the car. Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach, California.
Nobody pops up the hood so many times in a week, on their Toyota Celica.....only Scotty does🤣🤣🤣 twice a day. And the BMW and Mercedes-Benz owners🤣🤣🤣. Great video Scotty. Watch til you here in Norway🇧🇻
sooo right about the oem thermostats the cheap ones are garbage get a good one!
I need that heat sensor gun to figure out which one of my kids or dogs is letting out the deadly silent farts. Thanks for the great tips!
Farts r good for you
@a S lol, the fruits creates the toots!
We are all to bless you, Scotty.
The Video Lesson from Scotty Kilmer the Mechanic Knowledges of Basic levels, MUST be included in the High School Program Nationwide in the USA.
I was born and graduated from High School in Ukraine. In High School, I took The Construction Machine and Tractor Operator and Machine Mechanic classes.
I had a license and a profession at 18 years old already.
When I moved to the USA I got a CDL because I know how to do it and have the knowledge of how to do it correctly.
In the USA a millions of children are growing up in families of single moms or
even in a full family where children can not gain general knowledge about how and what to do with their vehicles.
As a result of poor knowledge or its absence, we see breakdown cars on the shoulders of the roadways and they create interference and are a threat to the car owner and all road users.
Just what I was looking for, I appreciate your links to the tools and stuff you use.
Thank you Scotty!!!
I wish there was a guy like you for RV maintenance. (Non-engine types).
Another great lesson from the "Master!"
Yes! AT 205 Does work. I have a front seal going on my Dodge ram 4.7 are used AT 205 300 miles later fixed , and I sprayed on all my rubber like you suggest it works. Thanks for the tip Scotty.
Scotty forgot to mention changing the coolant on the blinker too. Never use cheap blinker coolant.
Wow! Scotty, The insight gleaned from this video is tremendous! Thank you for all that you do for this community, you've created! Hats off to you!
Love this guy! He's straight to the point and informs very well. Everybody else babbles on😉
Replace the radiator when you change the cap & thermostat and don't forget the headgasket and catch can . Spray all hoses with wd40 and save.
My cars cooling system is not as cool as Scotty
:D
He's a cool ole grandpa
But you're frosty
Yup - he's a cool dude 👌
And his thermostat is working fine 👌
The key thing with Scotty is that he makes us more educated about how our car works so we don't get scammed by mechanics.
I swear In love watching your videos. Ur a great teacher
Radiator caps are super important. Improper pressure not only overheats but if pressure is too high it can wear out heater cores and water pumps faster. High pressure looks for the weakest link in the system and cause leaks.
You forgot to mention most hoses fall apart on the inside, all the spray on stuff to keep them soft just makes them look nice
Yeah, damaged hoses I've replaced were deteriorating from the inside. If you see black gunk when you open the radiator cap, reservoir, or surge tank, you've got bad hose somewhere.
This is beautiful teaching, as a mechanic in African we always remove thermostat because of our weather condition. Hope there is no side effect on it.
I'll stick with the fail-safe thermostats. Had one fail just recently, they fail in the open position.
Heater didn't work so good, engine was fine, just drove it gently for a couple of days until I could change the stat during the weekend.
How often do you suggest changing the radiator coolant?
Thanks Scotty
Skotty you are so swesome
God bless you ..our angel...
Skotty is tha swesomest and then some...
@Hooha888 It's scotch, err whiskey, err whisky ...err, would you believe bourbon?!!
Skötie
@Hooha888
Whatever the name spelling, it is moving fine!!
I have a 2003 cadillac deville which has been a maintenance nightmare!. I have had the thermastat replaced, after replacing the reservoir which was replaced 3 times. Replaced the radiator 2 times and the water pump replaced with in the last 3 years. I replaced the driver belt and water pump belt and tensioner. After that the car still over heated and lost all the antifreeze. Pulled over and let it cool and added 2 gallons of antifreeze. No more leaks but drove to get a diagnosis right away. Told I need a water pump and radiator and replace gaskets on cylinder head crossover pipe. Told to replace the thermostat which I said I did already. Could an over heat cause damage to the thermastat and could replacing the tensioner cause a misalignment causing damage to the water pump?
I have a similar story, with water pump, thermostat etc replaced in the past year and the mechanic said I probably had an air pocket in the line when I brought my car in overheating. So he bled the system. This was done this morning, so we shall see. So far so good.
Also I boil my thermostat to make sure it works and isn't broken right out of the box
I like mine medium done
@@andreit3582 same
tyler henry I wish I would’ve thought of that when I changed one on my Jetta many years back.
I do the same with ammo.
Before I take it to the range, I test em. If the fire properly, I know that was a good round.
@@deasttn Then just fill the shell with more lead and gun powder and it's good to go.
Scotty Kilmer
Has the best videos
for car repairs and
general information.
Scotty you forgot to mention that you should use distilled water when you change your antifreeze.
Not needed. My family has used straight well water for decades without issue.
Yup- local water can be high in minerals- probably not a big problem unless you live in a state that allows oil fracking.
Use distilled in your car battery too.
Most premixed antifreeze is about the same as buying it undiluted. I get that more for the convenience of bot having to measure and dilute. I do usually flush the system with some plain distilled water.
AT205.. Same idea as 303.
I put "303 Protectant" on tires that were starting to get small surface cracks from sitting years. The tires look like new now.
Just don't breath it in or get it on yourself. It doesn't smell toxic but supposedly is toxic.
Thermostats used to be mounted on top of the engine and were easily replaceable. Nowadays the manufacturers are looking out for the dealerships instead of the car buyer so they mount thermostats in hard to get at spots. Replacing a thermostat used to be a 10 minute job. Now it can take hours.
I love watching Scotty.. i have been for a long while . i watch his videos even when i don’t have auto issues.
Scotty your the best thing on you tube. I have gained so much knowledge from you. Thanks bud.
I took 3 hrs to drive 7 klm to a radiator repair guy when i got there it had no fan belt either. No proublem with the head, but then again it was a Toyota. I drove 1minute parked 15. A nightmare. You da man scotty
Stupid this, stupid that, stupid design, had me in stitches. Love ya work Scotty !!!!!
THANK YOU.... A couple of your videos have saved me a few grand by doing my own work !! 👍 Love your channel.
You can do so much stuff to take care of your car by just watching Scotty's videos than consulting your dealer .
Scotty, I love ya man. The image you put up for golfing. That's just classic. Hahaha made my afternoon
Good teacher... I ve my car I have put almost 300,000 km but still going strong and no issues u recommend Toyota well...
Stant are good thermostats, OEM, and about $10. I never had one stick.
Me n my wife bought a car from Nissan Manukau motors last month. And now the gear is not working... But this channel make me feel I can fixed...
Scotty’s the big Kahuna on engine repair
While a car wash spray wand may not damage your radiator, using your own high pressure power washer can damage the radiator's delicate aluminum cooling fins! I know after seeing an HVAC technician's video explaining how some people damage their home air conditioner's condenser. Apparently you can use the right brush to reverse some of the damage when this happens.
In my experience thermostats when they stick, usually stick in the open position. That's when I change them.
You advice is worth Gold... thank you!
He needs to get insurance policy on his hands in case he loses them and can’t speak!
He is doing wonders for the ESL/ASL Community.
Use a piece of window screen between your grill and radiator. You will never have a bugs clogging your radiator again.
Scotty thanks for all your help over the years.
Yup, my mother in law blew the head gasket on her 2.2 Camry. Caused by a stuck thermostat. Now she knows about the temperature gauge.
Those 2.2 i4s are bulletproof man
hahaha yeah, now she knows, so what kind of car did she buy? I bet now she goes into a panic when it goes up a little on warm days.
@@shark11175 they are, everyone was amazed that the head gasket went. On the other hand it's a 1993, though we sold it, I still see it driving around.
What a coincidence Today I changed the thermostat, radiator cap and coolant in my hayabusa as a preventive maintenance service Picked up phone and this video poped up Cheers
Warning about pressure washer, you can easily destroy any radiator accidentally...
Not intercooler radiator though.
Agreed, the fins on an aluminium rad are very fragile. Bending them back into shape with tweezers is extremely time consuming even with the rad out
Best thing about my old Pontiac is the thermostat is right under the radiator cap so you gotta take it out every time you fill up the radiator. Literally can't avoid inspecting it every time you check your coolant, which I had to do a lot because the radiator drained a quart of coolant by the time you got the cap screwed back on.
Be careful with the pressure cleaner on the radiator. You might bend the small lamellae on it and that deminishes the cooling ability.
I am a living proof that he is right. I drive maruti alto 800 and anyone can tell a person driving that car must love the car as his prized possession and drive it very very cautiously. Despite that my car's thermostat valve broke after 4 and half years of driving. I guess it is its nature to last that long. So better change it before it breaks if natural causes.