The thermostat in your car regulates the temperature so that it is at a desired level.  It does this by controlling the mechanisms responsible for heating and cooling.  It controls the heat flow that goes in and out of the system.  Thermostats manage the amount of coolant within the internal combustion engine.  There are various thermostats for various temperatures.  Thermostats are found in any engine that is liquid cooled.

The thermostat may not perform properly for several reasons.  First of all, if the vehicle’s water pump is failing the thermostat is often affected.  Also, an overheated engine or coolant leakage could affect the thermostat.

It is important to have your thermostat looked at by a mechanic on a regular basis.  It plays a key role in cooling the engine, so have it replaced every couple of years.  Luckily, this is a fairly inexpensive car part that will save you from getting stranded on the side of the road, placing a call to your emergency roadside assistance program.

Failure to replace your thermostat when necessary could also give you problems, such as poor gas efficiency, a knocking sound when you accelerate, or even emissions difficulty.  You don’t want your car to overheat leaving you stranded somewhere.  However, car problems can be unforeseen even if you do everything right, so just make sure you have a road service program for emergency situations.