24/05/2025
The importance of Thermostat in Vehicles — Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Dealers Who Say It’s Not Important
If you’ve ever bought a car from a Nigerian dealer, you’ve probably heard this gem when you asked about the thermostat:
"OGA no worry, you no go need am, ra-di-yetor and and fan go hep you" !
“We don comot the thermostat — e dey cause overheating.”
Or worse:
“You no need am for Naija weather — e fit spoil your engine.”
Here’s why that these advice could ruin your engine
Dear driver, that’s like saying you don’t need kidneys because you can drink more water.
Let’s break the myth and tell you why removing your thermostat is like setting your engine up for slow destruction.
First Off: What Does the Thermostat Do?
Your car's thermostat is like the bouncer at a club — it controls who enters and when.
When your engine is cold (especially during morning startup), the thermostat stays closed, allowing the engine to warm up quickly.
Once it reaches optimal temperature, it opens, allowing coolant to flow and regulate the heat.
It keeps your engine running not too hot, not too cold — just right.
Why Removing It Is Bad News (No Matter the Weather)
1. Slower Engine Warm-Up = More Fuel Waste
When the thermostat is missing, your engine stays cold longer. A cold engine is fuel-hungry, like a generator that’s overdue for servicing.
Translation: More fuel, less performance.
2. Wears Out Your Engine Faster
Engines are designed to run at a specific temperature. When it never reaches that temperature (because the thermostat is gone), the oil stays thicker, friction increases, and parts wear out faster than Agege slippers.
Q AA
3. You Didn’t Fix Overheating — You Just Delayed the Problem
Most cars overheat because of radiator issues, coolant leaks, bad fan relays, or water pump failure — not because of the thermostat.
Removing it just masks the real issue. Before you know it, your car is boiling over in Oshodi traffic like Sunday rice water.
So Why Do Dealers Remove It?
Simple:
They don’t want to fix the actual problem.
It’s cheaper to remove the thermostat than change a bad radiator.
They assume Nigeria is “too hot” for it (spoiler: your engine gets hotter than the weather).
Secondly they want to sell it to make more money.
Signs Your Thermostat Might Actually Be Bad (Not Useless):
Engine takes forever to warm up
Temperature gauge fluctuates wildly
Coolant leaks or overheating despite full radiator
If any of these happen, replace the thermostat. Don’t delete it like WhatsApp messages from your ex.
The Verdict: Thermostat is Essential — Even in Nigeria
Whether you’re in Jos, Lagos, or Maiduguri, your car needs its thermostat.
Modern engines are built with temperature-sensitive sensors and systems — messing with them will just cost you more in the long run and This applies very much to engines from 2010.
Pls follow us. -hassan auto engineering company limited. for more health and maintenance tips about your car. Also check our page for cars within your budget.
