Thermostat shelf life? 40 years old ok?

[mrmolding]

Found some really old thermostats and wondering if I should use them or not. I think I got them in 82. They’ve got slight tarnishing — any thoughts or help is welcome!

 

[dadsbee]

Better than anything made today...

 

[mrmolding]

Better than anything made today...

Too funny!

 

[WileE]

Better than anything made today...

More than likely. Just check by immersing in water, then heating with a thermometer in the water. Observe the action as the water temp reaches the indicated temp on the thermostat.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Too funny!

It would be funny... If it weren't true.... Forty years ago our parts came from USA... Not so much these days..

 

[mrmolding]

It would be funny... If it weren't true.... Forty years ago our parts came from USA... Not so much these days..

Boxes are labeled from Tennessee! I’ll boil it and see how it does. Thanks!

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

My mechanic neighbor just put a new crate motor in a 95 Chevy van and has gone through 4 brand new thermostats because they were all bad right out of the box and causing initial overheating from a cold start.

 

[toolmanmike]

More than likely. Just check by immersing in water, then heating with a thermometer in the water. Observe the action as the water temp reaches the indicated temp on the thermostat.

I check them all that way. Last time I bought a t-stat I went through 3 before getting one that was right.

 

[bm02tj]

Watch it open and close then check seal for seating nice and smooth

 

[64BEL]

I check them all that way. Last time I bought a t-stat I went through 3 before getting one that was right.

That's how we would trouble shoot a cooling problem 40 years ago in the garage I worked at, rather than just putting a new one in.

 

[mrmolding]

Wanted to thank everyone for their help! I put the NOS Robertshaw 370-180 in boiling water and it opened right up! Installed it this evening.