is it necessary to remove thermostat to thoroughly flush the cooling system?

is it easy to remove the thermostat? do you have to remove the drive belts and idler pulley bracket first?

do you (how often) replace thermostat? is there a usual life span for it?

 

read the Stickies its in there

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/502

 

i did read it. that's basically FSM procedure. problem is, i think this procedure doesn't really flush the whole system if you don't remove thermostat.

and i still don't know if/when thermostat breakdown/replacement will be a problem.

 

If you want to do a proper coolant flush, you have to remove the thermostat.

The only other option is to heat up the engine so the thermostat opens up but then you'd be doing a flush with scalding hot coolant.

Just remove the thermostat, it's not that hard at all. The Haynes manual has a great how-to. And you won't burn your hands.