94 3.0 Heater/Temp issues

[Jabberwocky]

My 94 3.0 Ranger won't get hot!?

The heater will blow a little hot air when it's first on, then goes cold, also the temp gauge sits right on the "N" or the "O" at best. I like my stuff to run cool, but this is a pinch overboard, especially in winter.

Here is what I've done:
I have no AC, so less crap to go wrong. The "blend door" is functioning, as is the actuator cable all the way back to the environmental controls (which are also fine). Both heater hoses will heat up until the fan is run, then the return to sender line runs cool. Yes the heater core flows, both directions, I've flushed it and the fluid came out very clean.

Is this a common problem, does the 3.0 just not get hot? I know my old 3.0 Taurus never seemed to cook, but it got plenty toasty in the pas. compartment. My next step is replacing the T-stat with an OE temp one, that's not to say that the one it has isn't, the truck is new to me though so for all I know there isn't even one in there.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[nexis]

sounds almost like you have a problem with the hoses, they get old and will collapse in on themselves when they get warm, and reduce flow to a trickle. Heater hose is cheap, and a easy check. Something else i do suggest is to make sure some idiot did not put a heater core by-pass in there. (plastic thing with a vac line coming off of it that will be plugged into both heater hoses)

 

[Jabberwocky]

No by-pass in the hoses but they are quite soft and might be getting pinched in the turns. I'll check that before I do the T-stat. Not that either is complicated, but if you compare the two hoses such an easy fix and I've never meet a heater hose that couldn't stand to be changed.

 

[saskman]

MY 94 Explorer was doing the same thing. Put a new 195 deg T Stat and life is good. Although I have a grill cover to help it out as well.