Oldsmobile 88 Car Thermostat Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Car Thermostat Replacement Service

How much does a Car Thermostat Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Oldsmobile 88 Car Thermostat Replacement is $221 with $81 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1999 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$320.92	Shop/Dealer Price$366.00 - $493.14
1993 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$309.25	Shop/Dealer Price$351.90 - $475.72
1997 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$308.31	Shop/Dealer Price$350.75 - $473.88
1998 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$308.31	Shop/Dealer Price$350.75 - $473.88
1996 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$308.31	Shop/Dealer Price$352.22 - $476.46
1994 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$309.25	Shop/Dealer Price$352.06 - $476.01
1995 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L Turbo	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$309.25	Shop/Dealer Price$351.94 - $475.79
1995 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$308.31	Shop/Dealer Price$350.75 - $473.88

Show example Oldsmobile 88 Car Thermostat Replacement prices

What is an engine cooling system thermostat and how does it work?

The car's engine cooling system thermostat is a small valve within a cooling system passageway that opens and closes in response to the temperature of the circulating engine coolant. When your car is first started and the coolant is cold, the valve in the thermostat will be in the closed position, circulating the coolant flow only within the engine instead of flowing to the radiator, which allows the engine to warm up fast, promoting fuel efficiency, low emissions, and reduced engine deposits. Once the engine coolant reaches the design temperature, usually around 195 degrees, the valve will open and close as you drive in order to maintain a coolant temperature typically between 195 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thermostat

When to consider replacing the engine cooling system thermostat:

Engine overheats. A thermostat with the valve stuck closed is a common cause of engine overheating. However, since there are other causes of overheating, a mechanic will thoroughly inspect the cooling system prior to condemning the thermostat. Since it is usually not known how badly the engine overheated, the mechanic will also try to determine if there is evidence that the cylinder head gasket was blown. If so, it would be repaired prior to replacing the thermostat.
Temperature gauge reads too low or too high. Thermostats can get sticky, causing the engine temperature to stray from the optimal range. Your dash-mounted temperature gauge will notify you of this malfunction.
Cooling system repairs. All thermostats eventually fail. Therefore, if the cooling system is already open for major repairs, such as water pump or radiator replacement, it is recommended to install a new thermostat simply as insurance against future breakdown.

How do mechanics replace the engine cooling system thermostat?

Once the engine is completely cold, the radiator cap is loosened and enough coolant is drained from the radiator so the coolant level is below the thermostat housing.
The thermostat housing is removed and the thermostat and gasket are extracted. Note that some cars have more than one cooling system thermostat and both might need replacement.
All mounting surfaces on the thermostat housing are cleaned of old gasket material. A new gasket is applied and the thermostat is re-installed in the correct orientation and with the temperature sensing cylinder facing downward towards the engine.
The thermostat housing bolts are tightened to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications using a calibrated inch-pound torque wrench.
The cooling system is refilled with the appropriate coolant type and the system is fully bled of all air.
The car engine is run until the normal operating temperature is reached, and while taking precautions with the hot coolant, the coolant level is rechecked while confirming there is flow through the radiator — either visually or with an infrared temperature gun. This will confirm the thermostat is open. Finally, the engine is checked for leaks.

Is it safe to drive with an engine cooling system thermostat problem?

No. If it has been determined that there is a thermostat problem, it should be repaired right away. Failure to do so can cause substantial and costly damage to the engine.

When replacing the engine cooling system thermostat keep in mind:

Engine overheating due to causes other than a faulty thermostat, will themselves damage a thermostat. Therefore, always replace the thermostat if the engine overheats, even if the thermostat was not the initial cause of the overheating.
The thermostat should be replaced anytime you have major work done on the coolant system. It is convenient and costs little during such repairs and insurance against future breakdown.
OEM thermostats are the best ones to use and you can request your mechanic to install only the OEM thermostat. Dealer supplied, OEM thermostats are sometimes more costly but are generally higher quality and specifically engineered for your car.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert Oldsmobile mechanics

Real customer reviews from Oldsmobile owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(50)

Rating Summary

46

1

1

1

1

46

1

1

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Anthony

12 years of experience

77 reviews

Request Anthony

Anthony

12 years of experience

Request Anthony

by Gary

Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Transmission Fluid Service - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Anthony was quick and got the job done right. I would recommend Anthony to anyone.

Carlos

17 years of experience

362 reviews

Carlos

17 years of experience

by Beverly

Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Tail Light Lens Replacement (Driver Side) - Fort Worth, Texas

The appointment was fine. Carlos was very personable and did a good job. He was very helpful and explained everything very well. I would be glad to select him again for any future services I need.

Richard

22 years of experience

461 reviews

Request Richard

Richard

22 years of experience

Request Richard

by TERRY

Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Car is not starting - Atlanta, Georgia

Mr. Cobb was very professional and knowledgeable in his trade . Wish there were more like him a my mechanic inc. Thanks Mr. Cobb

Armando

11 years of experience

37 reviews

Request Armando

Armando

11 years of experience

Request Armando

by Charles

Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Starter - Miami, Florida

Amanda was timely through and curtious. I would highly recommend him.

Excellent Rating

(50)

Rating Summary

46

1

1

1

1

46

1

1

1

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

The Guide to Right-of-Way Laws in Idaho

The The right-of-way laws in Idaho are in place to let motorists know when they are obligated to yield the right of way to another vehicle or to a pedestrian in order to keep traffic flowing smoothly and prevent collisions....

How Long Does an AC Condenser Last?

Your Your car’s air conditioner system has a lot of different components, including the compressor, the receiver dryer, the hoses, the evaporator, and the condenser. The condenser is the component that converts gas into cooled liquid. Most people do not...

Cell Phones and Texting: Distracted Driving Laws in Michigan

Michigan Michigan defines distracted driving as any non-driving activity that takes the driver’s eyes away from the road while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. These distractions are further broken down into three main areas: manual, cognitive, and visual....

Car will not start when in park

The transmission has a position sensor that will tell the computer what gear you are in and when you are in park or neutral to allow you to crank the engine. If the switch is out of adjustment or not...

Fuel pump is not priming.

Hi there. The fuel pump could have failed due to crystallization of the fuel if there is too much water in the fuel). I recommend putting a treatment of water separator in the fuel tank and let it sit for...

how can i find the reviews for the mechanic they sent me

Hi: If you visit the YourMechanic list of "cities served" located here (https://www.yourmechanic.com/city), please scroll through that list until you come to your city. Click on your city and your mechanic should appear in a list. Simply click on that...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com