Hcl

Greetings,

I've got some work planned for the jeep this weekend and was looking for some advice. I am going to do a cooling system flush and swap out some hoses. I am also going to replace the thermostat housing and thermostat housing gasket. The thermostat housing has become pretty corroded and appears to be oozing/leaking at the mating surface.

Should I replace the thermostat as well while I have everything taking off? or is that unnecessary since it is giving me no problems at the moment. Do the thermostats have a long life to them? I've had the jeep from 100k to 200k and haven't replaced it. Just curious about your thoughts, don't want to spend unnecessary time and money replacing it, but also don't want to leave it and have it go bad in another couple 1000 miles.

Thanks!

cruiser54

If you do, get one from the dealer or online factory parts supplier.

BlueRidgeMark

Why would you even CONSIDER re-using an old thermostat?

That's like re-using an old gasket.

PatHenry

x2 (period.)

Waynerd

They’re cheap. You will have the old one out anyway and it’s not wasting time by installing a new one instead.

jpz

I would also suggest replacing it. I go against the grain with most on here by not buying everything from the dealer, actually I have never bought a single part from the dealer. I just try to avoid buying the cheapest local option when replacing any part.

Now I just need to find some wood to knock on.

Martlor13

i mean, thats not really against the grain haha...yeah oem is what most recommend, but majority of the time its not from a dealer....and most of the time, there are only a few parts i would say that are actually oem that most buy.............thermostat however, is usually one haha

5-Speed

I put Stant thermostats in both my Jeeps. A lot of people don't like them but me personally, I have never had an issue with one.

outersketcher

OF COURSE you replace the thermostat! Why go through all the trouble of removing the housing.. replacing the housing, and possibly hoses... flushing the sytem...and then.. reuse the old thermostat?


Haha.. you NUTS?


its cheap insurance and peace of mind to pick up a new one. And... yah.. get a new gasket while your at it.


heh

jpk

I agree with ya there. The only time I buy oem parts is for parts that are not available from aftermarket sellers. The truth is that more than likely an OEM thermostat was probably made in China and imported to the US by the company that supplied Chrysler with the part. I would even venture a guess that ANY oem part you buy from Chrysler now for an XJ is more than likely made in China. Remember, they did make the XJ in China for several years after production stopped in the US.

cruiser54

OEM stats are made in Israel by MotoRad.

jpz

Yes, I agree. The point I was driving at is I see very frequent suggestions of only buying parts from the dealer. I'm positive that there is not a Chrysler part manufacturing factory making parts in the USA for us XJ owners with nothing but top quality in mind. I'm sure they are buying parts that are made for them. With that in mind, I buy my parts from whatever parts store I tend to be near (have several in my area), or RockAuto but I just avoid buying the cheapest option.

I just didn't want to start a pissing match with anyone who honestly feels that factory parts are the only option, or those who have the money to buy all their parts from the factory. I am neither one of those options.

Now I still need to find that stinking piece of wood to knock on before my Jeep overheats, the wheels fall off, the blinkers stop working, and eventually catches on fire.

PatHenry

I disagree with this philosophy as I understand it. It seems you're implying the dealer goes and gets different (cheaper) parts because they don't care about XJ's.

That's not how the "factory" works. They make OEM/Mopar parts at whatever factory -- now that doesn't mean they don't change factories, but it's not because some amount of time passed or they don't care - it just means a different factory. They make the parts for all applications the same way, from the same supplier/factory. At some point they no longer use part X. So they make part X for some amount of time and then simply discontinue it and no longer make it.

For some XJ parts, since they used in other (newer) Jeeps, they still make the part in the same factory. These are available at dealers, for other parts, the parts that are still floating around at dealers or overstock suppliers are all that will ever be made as a Mopar part. Hence why some parts are hard to find and will only get harder to find.

Now just because it's a Mopar part doesn't mean it's the best quality available. The advantage of Mopar parts is they are exact fit and have been tested and used in the vehicle and therefore are often much better tried and tested in the specific vehicle.

Tbone289

I've never seen an instance where anyone on this site stated that factory parts are the only option.

PatHenry

Agreed.

It seems to me that when folks strongly recommend Mopar it's for things where the aftermarket parts are commonly poor quality - usually sensors like CPS, Cam PS, etc. Then there are things like tranny mounts where folks generally recommend Mopar OR Napa. On the flip side if you ask about radiators most folks will say Autozone special is best since you get no more value over the pricier options.