Do i need to replace my thermostat?

[evoq007]

Hey, well the explorer has been running cold lately. The temp gauge never gets close to the half way mark, the heat isnt very warm, and my mpg have been going down. When i start my car it idles at around 2000rpm then slowly goes down to about 900 or so after about a minute or two. When i first got my car the temp gauge was always about halfway after driving around for a while. The mpg used to be arouns 18-19 and now it has dropped to about 14-15...and it is getting warmer outside. the avg temp for the last couple weeks has probably been about 45 degrees so its not that cold. If it is the thermostat how hard is it to replace? Can i do it myself? Im pretty handy with tools, ive done some stuff to my truck already. Well thanks guys for the help.

Scott

 

[Blee1099]

It be good to change it if it hasn't been done before. Its a cheap part so I would.. I like to change them once a year.

 

[X~FACTOR]

You change your Thermostat once a year, Blee? Really?

From what you described, Scott, it sounds like it is normal. My normal temp gauge sits just below the middle. My Idle is the same, high at first and then slowly settles down. If it was me I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it makes you feel safer, Thermostat cost about $25 and a very easy DIY.

 

[evoq007]

Well its not really right below the middle, its usually just above the cold mark, and it never used to be like that before. Oh well ill check it out. More replies appreciated. I doubt its ever been replaced, and it has 128,000 miles on it.

Scott

 

[Blee1099]

You change your Thermostat once a year, Blee? Really?

Yeah I do it yearly when I flush my coolant system out. I put over 20,000 miles on it yearly and its such a cheap part that I rather change them out yearly than worry about having one fail in the closed position.

 

[WDP]

Yearly?? I'm on my third in 198K and 8 years. Never had one fail to open, only slow and a wide variation in operating temp. Easy to do, but buy a new rubber gasket ring, cheap insurance for less than a buck.

WDP