Replacing the thermostat

[neil_S2]

Hello All

Just ordered a new thermostat for the S2, as I fear the old one has given up the ghost.
I've got my bible at the ready, but just wondered if anyone else has tried this and has any pearls of wisdom/gotcha's etc (I'm a bit worried about air locks too)

Cheers

Neil

[dern]

I've done the one on my s3 so if you have a 2.9 in your s2 it should be the same. The housing will be on the front of the engine near the top (I seem to recall). Put plenty of penetrating oil on the bolts and let it soak in and hope the previous 'mechanic' used a torque wrench or there's a good chance the bolts will snap. You'll either need a new gasket or some liquid gasket suitable for the job. I used liquid gasket, if you do the same the use it sparingly as you don't want chunks of liquid gasket whizzing around the system. When you put the housing back on use a torque wrench for the sake of the next bloke (please). It requires astonishingly little force and doing it up to two UNGS and an OOF will make it impossible to get out next time.

As for bleeding I had no problems. I think I may have poured water down the hoses to get more in the system but basically fill it through the swirl pot (not the expansion tank) and bleed from the rad. Run until the thermostat opens and water run around the system and then top up (after leaving it to cool for a bit). You'll get airlocks anyway so keep an eye on the levels every journey and top up until it stabilises. Shouldn't take more than a couple of journeys.

Mark