Eastern Mediterranean University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laboratory Handout
COURSE: MENG422 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING I
Semester: Fall 2012
Name of Experiment: Thermostat testing
Instructor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Hasan Hacevki
Assistant: Mr.Ehsan Kiani
Submitted by:
Student No:
Group No:
Date of experiment:
Date of submission:
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EVALUATION
Activity During Experiment & Procedure

30 %

Data , Results & Graphs

35 %

Discussion, Conclusion & Answer to Questions

Neat and tidy report writing

Overall Mark

Name of evaluator:

Mr.EHSAN KIANI

30 %
5%

OBJECT: The students will design and perform the opening and closing of
a thermostat experimentally.
APPARATUS:
1. Electrical heater
2. Thermostat
3. Thermometer
4. One cup of water
THEORY:
A thermostat is a device for regulating the temperature of a system so
that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired set-point
temperature.
Any liquid-cooled car engine has a thermostat that sits between the
engine and the radiator. The thermostat in most cars is about 2 inches (5 cm)
in diameter. Its job is to block the flow of coolant to the radiator until the
engine has warmed up. When the engine is cold, no coolant flows through
the engine. Once the engine reaches its operating temperature the thermostat
opens. By letting the engine warm up as quickly as possible, the thermostat
reduces engine wear, deposits and emissions.

Figure 1: Opened and closed position of thermostat

The secret of the thermostat lies in the small cylinder located on the engineside of the device. This cylinder is filled with a wax that begins to melt at
perhaps 82 oC (different thermostats open at different temperatures, but 82
o
C is a common temperature).
Once the temperature of the coolant raises to between 82 90 oC, the
thermostat starts to open, allowing fluid to flow through the radiator. The
thermostatr starts to close as the temperature drops to 60 62 oC in the
radiator.
A rod connected to the valve is expanding with the melting of the
wax. When the wax is freezing as the water cools down it pulls the valve to
close the passage.

PROCEDURE:
1. Put the thermostat in the cup of water
2. Put the cup on heater surface and heat the water until it boils
3. Read and record the temperatures at every suitable time interval and at
the same time observe the opening of the thermostat
4. Take the thermostat out of the boiling water and let it cool down and
observe how it is closing.
5. Plot the results and discuss in discussion and conclusion section.

DATA:
Reading No.

Temp (C)

Opening (C)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

CONCLUSIONS:
1) What are the factors affecting the accuracy of the experiment?
2) Make error analysis for this experiment.