Hyundai i20 Thermostats
Thermostats for the Hyundai i20 — new, used and aftermarket stock, quoted once we know which i20 you are running
What Are Hyundai i20 Thermostats?
The thermostat holds coolant in the block until the engine is up to temperature, then opens and lets it circulate through the radiator. The practical Hyundai question is whether yours is a standalone insert or part of a housing assembly — on several of the newer engines it is the latter, which means the part you actually need is considerably bigger than the one you pictured, and it usually arrives with the sensor already fitted. Symptoms point in a useful direction too: a thermostat stuck open gives you cold running, poor economy and a heater that never gets there, which is the failure we see most. Stuck closed is rarer and far more expensive, because it takes the head gasket with it.
Signs You Need New Thermostats
Getting the right thermostats for your i20 first time
i20 owners are usually surprised by how much turns on the generation code — PB, then GB, then the current BC3 all sold here.The PB and GB are different cars underneath despite the shared badge, so a part listed simply as "i20" is not automatically the right one — the generation code decides it.
Engine families fitted to the SA-market i20:
Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned Hyundais take different radiators and fan assemblies, and the CRDi diesels add intercooler plumbing that the petrol cars simply do not have.
Send us petrol or diesel, and whether the car has air conditioning with your enquiry and we will confirm the correct thermostats against your car before anything is dispatched.
In South Africa the i20 is mostly a high-mileage commuter hatch that spends its life in stop-start city traffic, which is why wear items move faster on an i20 than on almost anything else Hyundai sells here. That is the wear pattern we stock and source against.
Hyundai i20 Thermostats FAQs
Will thermostats from another i20 fit mine?
Not automatically. The i20 sold in South Africa as PB, then GB, then the current BC3, and the PB and GB are different cars underneath despite the shared badge, so a part listed simply as "i20" is not automatically the right one — the generation code decides it. Send us the generation code off your VIN plate and we will confirm it either way before anything is dispatched.
What should I send you when asking about i20 thermostats?
The VIN is the single most useful thing — a photo of the plate is fine. Failing that, the generation code and the engine code off the block. The i20 ran as PB, then GB, then the current BC3, so the generation is what narrows the search.
Is my thermostat a standalone part or a whole housing?
On several of the newer Hyundai engines it is part of a housing assembly rather than an insert, which means the part you need is considerably larger than the one you pictured and usually arrives with the sensor already fitted. Send the engine code and we will tell you which of the two you are buying before you commit.
What does a stuck thermostat do on a Hyundai?
Stuck open is the common one: the engine runs cold, the heater never really warms up, the gauge sits below the middle and economy drops. Stuck closed is rarer and far more serious — the gauge climbs fast, coolant bubbles in the header tank, and the head gasket is what pays for it.
What does a Hyundai thermostat cost in South Africa?
Our supplier network stocks Hyundai thermostats from around R149 to R4,500 depending on model and whether it is a bare thermostat or a full housing assembly — which is exactly why the engine code matters more than the model name here. Request a free quote with the code for the correct part and a fitting estimate.
How long does the job take?
About an hour on most of the naturally aspirated engines. The turbocharged units are tighter to get at and take longer. Have a coolant flush and refill done at the same time; the system is already drained, so it costs very little extra to do it properly.
My Hyundai never reaches operating temperature. What is it?
A thermostat stuck open, nine times out of ten. The less common cause is a coolant temperature sensor reporting cold to the gauge while the engine is actually up to temperature. A workshop scan reads live coolant temp in seconds and tells you which of the two you are chasing, which is cheaper than replacing both.
Learn More About Hyundai i20 Thermostats
Get your i20 thermostats matched properly
A part number from the old unit, or simply your VIN, is enough for us to identify the right thermostats for your i20.