T-Stat dead?

[golde30]

so for the last year that i have had this e30, the temp gauge always sat at just below 1/2 mark..ALWAYS...then about 2 days ago, the temp started staying at around the 1/4 mark...did my t-stat go out in the stuck-open position? does this hurt anything? it takes longer to warm up now, but other than that, it just runs cooler now...

[royalflush313]

so for the last year that i have had this e30, the temp gauge always sat at just below 1/2 mark..ALWAYS...then about 2 days ago, the temp started staying at around the 1/4 mark...did my t-stat go out in the stuck-open position? does this hurt anything? it takes longer to warm up now, but other than that, it just runs cooler now...

if the T-stat was always stuck open, I doubt that the temp would climb up to the 1/4 mark. At least with me it didn't.
Well either way, at least it's not stuck closed and making your car overheat 8-)

[BCMike]

When the inner frame of my t-stat broke that was exactly the symptoms I saw. The t-stat is not really wide open but more a bit ajar. Because the frame is broken the spring can expand but that doesn't move the valve, just the broken frame. You're probably ok but still you'd like to keep the temp right to account for differing thermal expansion properties of the aluminum and steel components. Swap it and treat your car to a new splashof antifreeze for the winter.

[AdamF 88iS]

It's cheap and easy to change. Check up on it before it gets stuck closed and you end up with a cracked head.

[golde30]

all good advice. i will change that thing out this weekend. thanks