Hi!
I am doing some front engine work soon,
water pump, aux water pump, oil/air separator clean outs, spark plugs.

i have a 2019 s560 w the 4.0tt, M176 motor.

question on thermostat.
do you need to replace the whole housing?
can i just replace the thermostat and reuse the housing?
thanks in advance!

 

If the m176 is anything like the m278, its one unit.
On the m278 its all electronically controlled, so I highly doubt the m176 will be any simpler. The days of an expanding wax thermostat is no more.

 

Curious if you don't mind could you post a little bit about the oil/vapor separators when you get to that point?

Where they are exactly, how difficult to get to, how to clean, etc.? Since these can cause a lot of trouble if they get clogged would be nice to know more about them ... thanks!

 

Sorry, I never changed those. Sounds like a PCV valve?
The water pump was right in front of my engine. I did not do the AUX pump in this car. Probably not a bad thing to replace, maybe will do mine next year.
In my other car, SLK32, when the AUX waterpump fails, which it has, you just don't have much power. The engine retards timing, boost goes down.

I did the thermostat when I did the waterpump because tabs break off when you remove it. Its stupid expensive - $600 or something.

I had a Crown Vic years ago. The thermostat died. Car ran fine, but I didn't have heat until the engine heated up, which took a while.
Paid less than $5 for the thermostat at an auto parts store. Changed it out in the parking lot, I think it was three or four bolts and just a bit of coolant spilled.
You can still get them for less than $10. Crazy that it does the same thing as a $600 part.

 

I am doing the same thing - my mechanic told me (he is my spiritual advisor for when I do my own work)...there is a plastic cap near the oil housing that you should change when you have the thermostat out - cant reach it with it in. Something like a $20 part. I asked him to just order it...I bet someone on the forum would know what he is talking about.

As for the thermostat, it is built into the housing. Image below is the cap thing he said to get (this cap has nothing what so ever to do with cooling, it is just best practices). .