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You chose your Jaguar for its performance and power, not to mention the fact it’s one of the most desirable vehicles of all time. When something doesn’t feel right with your drive, you should follow your instincts and try to figure out what’s wrong before your vehicle experiences costly damage. A good example is thermostat housing failure, which can lead to engine damage. Let’s look at some tips to help identify thermostat housing failure in your Jaguar to ensure you know when it’s time for an assessment.
What is Thermostat Housing?
Your Jag operates when mini explosions fire the pistons to generate power. This also generates a lot of heat in your engine, which requires a thermostat to read temperatures. The temperature tells your system when to send coolant through the engine bay to absorb the heat and transfer it to the radiator to be cooled. The thermostat housing allows the coolant to move through the system by opening and releasing it when required. If the thermostat housing is failing and the valve can’t open, the coolant can’t cool the engine, which puts it at risk of overheating.
What Happens if an Engine Overheats?
Overheated engines can experience serious damage, including:
- Failed Head Gasket: Excessive heat can cause gaskets to warp, expand and crack, causing your engine to burn oil and coolant. This will permanently damage your engine and make your vehicle unsafe to drive.
- Cracked Engine Block: Heat also causes the engine block to expand and contract, leading to cracks and dangerous oil leaks.
- Warped Cylinders and Pistons: The pistons creating the power are lubricated with oil to reduce friction as they pump up and down, while the inside of the chamber needs to be free of oil, air, and fuel. However, when the engine overheats, it can warp the pistons and cylinders, allowing oil to seep into the chamber.
How to Identify Thermostat Housing Failure
Thermostat housing issues present serious risks and require immediate attention. But how do you identify possible thermostat housing failure? Watch for the following signs:
- Increased Engine Temperatures: The temperature gauge on your dashboard tracks your engine’s temperature. Ideally, the dial should remain right in the middle (between 160 to 170 Fahrenheit or 70 to 90 degrees Celsius). However, your Jag will also warn you before your engine overheats, telling you your car should be checked as soon as possible.
- Check Engine Light: Although a check engine light doesn’t necessarily mean the engine is overheating, it still requires immediate attention.
- Coolant Leaks: We’ve explained the importance of coolant in keeping your engine cool. However, coolant leaks drain the coolant from the system, which means there won’t be enough to cool the engine when it’s released through the thermostat housing. If you notice liquid on your garage floor, it could be coolant. Check under the hood to see if there’s a green liquid collecting around the thermostat housing. If so, this is coolant.
- Erratic Temperature: As mentioned, the dial should be sitting directly in the middle of your gauge. If it fluctuates, it could indicate the valve in the housing unit is allowing coolant to enter the engine when not required or that it’s not opening at all.
Watching for these signs will help you identify 
possible thermostat housing failure so you can schedule an appointment to get your Jaguar assessed.
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