Allentown’s Best Repair Point To Fix Your Volkswagen’s Thermostat Leak
by schearerswpadmin June 24, 2022While there are several potential culprits to an overheating Volkswagen engine, a common culprit is a thermostat leak. A thermostat leak is a hole or crack in the engine cooling system that allows coolant to escape. If too much coolant escapes, it can cause the engine to overheat. Engine overheating can lead to serious engine damage, which can be costly to repair. It is therefore important to check your vehicle’s cooling system regularly for leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible.
What does your Volkswagen’s thermostat do?
The purpose of your Volkswagen’s thermostat is to determine how much coolant needs to circulate through your engine. Because coolant is so vital to the health of your engine, that means it is essential to keep your thermostat in good shape.
Something you might hear about your thermostat when discussing it with your mechanic is that it is “stuck open” or “stuck closed”. That is because the thermostat unit itself operates as a valve that allows coolant to pass or not. It opens when the engine is too hot, allowing coolant to circulate until temperatures have dropped to safer levels.
As you can imagine, the valve is opening and closing constantly as you drive, which can lead to quite a bit of wear and tear. If the thermostat gets stuck open or closed, it can throw off the balance of the cooling system and lead to overheating. And of course, the wear and tear caused by all that opening and closing can lead to leaks over time as well.
What causes a leaky thermostat?
There are three main things that cause a leaky thermostat in a Volkswagen. The first is that the thermostat is stuck in the closed position. This can eventually lead to leaks around the seals, as the system attempts to continue circulating coolant. Another problem can be if the thermostat is stuck in the open position. This allows coolant to continually pass through, never giving it the chance to really cool down.
Another possibility is that the thermostat housing has developed cracks. This can be caused by overheating, rough handling, or simply by general wear and tear.
Can I fix a leaky thermostat at home?
Like many car repairs, it may be possible to repair a thermostat at home, but that doesn’t mean it’s advisable. If you are relatively handy and familiar with your Volkswagen’s engine, changing out a thermostat is a relatively simple repair that you may be able to do at home if you have the right tools. However, if you haven’t done much work on your car before, this may not be the best project to start with. It can be a bit fiddly, and may also require some relatively niche tools, like a drain pan, gasket scraper, and bench vice.
It is important to remember that you’re not just paying for time and parts when you visit a mechanic — you’re paying for knowledge. If you’re unsure about your ability to change out the thermostat, you can actually save money by taking your Volkswagen to a skilled professional the first time around, rather than risking accidentally doing further damage to the engine by trying to take apart things you’re not familiar with.
Come by Schearer’s Sales and Service
If you’ve been noticing your Volkswagen overheating, it is important to get that taken care of as soon as possible 
before any further damage is done. If you live in or around Allentown, PA, including Bethlehem, Macungie, and Fullerton, Schearer’s Sales and Service is here to help.
Schearer’s Sales and Service specializes in European vehicles, meaning we know your Volkswagen inside and out. Our skilled service technicians are able to accurately diagnose and quickly fix any thermostat leak issues your Volkswagen may be having. Once any thermostat issues are taken care of, we can work to set up a maintenance plan for you, as regular maintenance is the best way to keep any thermostat issues from progressing far enough to let your engine actually overheat.
Whether you need routine maintenance or a more in-depth repair, our friendly staff is ready and waiting to help you out. Call or stop by today to learn more about why we’re the number one European vehicle repair shop in the area.