MAHLE Aftermarket announces Thermal Management Expansion

The cooling system of a vehicle is a precise mix of fluids and mechanical parts working together to ensure the engine is not damaged by the extreme heats it can produce. The system therefore need to be working at peak efficiency with no serious contamination while checks need to be completed on a regular basis. A problem with the cooling system can have a serious effect on various engine parts.

MAHLE Aftermarket has just announced its expansion into the thermal management market. Therefore the company has decided to offer some tips for workshops carrying out coolant circuit repairs. Thermostats, thermal switches and temperature sensors are designed to last the service life of an engine and are maintenance-free. They do, however, need to be exchanged when accidents occur or as a result of external influences.

During the mandatory inspection of the system, particular attention should be paid to the following components and circumstances to establish whether there is a problem or if one could occur while the vehicle is being driven:

• Do the radiator and/or coolant pump have any obvious defects?
• Is the coolant hose perished or damaged – possibly by an external influence such as rodent gnawing?
• Is the water pump drive belt in good condition with no perishing or stretching?
• Was the cooling system opened beforehand, for example, to change the timing belt or replace the water pump? If this is the case, be sure to thoroughly bleed the system for around 30-60 minutes, otherwise a more expensive fault could occur when the vehicle is driven
• Is there previous damage caused by thermal overloading or contamination due to previous service or repair work on the system? This can cause additional failure risks for thermostats and often is the reason for repeated overheating or even system failure.

When carrying out any work on the coolant circuit, MAHLE Aftermarket recommends that technicians do not just replace the defective part, but also all the coolant and all thermostats, thermal switches and sensors. This is not just more economical than having to repeat the repair process; it also prevents complaints and increases customer satisfaction.

Thermostat range
The complete range of MAHLE Aftermarket thermostats extends to more than 500 individual part numbers, which represents a huge proportion of the UK vehicle parc. It includes traditional thermostat inserts, housing thermostats (with the mixing chamber integral to the unit), Map-controlled thermostats, sleeve valve thermostats, oil thermostats and EGR thermostats that regulate the flow of coolant through the EGR cooler. In addition, MAHLE Aftermarket also supplies a multitude of thermal switches and thermocouples.