Did Ford Use Threadlock?

[Drg racr]

Hi guys and gals! I've been away for about a year or so, but I'm back. I just got my wife a 2001 Explorer 4-door 2WD, 4.0L SOHC automatic with 118K miles. Pretty nice truck.
While driving it yesterday, the thermostat O-ring let go, spewing a/f all over the place. Today, I dove into it, and i noticed that none of the bolts I removed had any type of threadlock on them. Is this normal? It almost looks like the bolts backed out of the thermostat housing. It could be that someone replaced the t-stat and didn't apply threadlock.
I went over some other bolts, and the upper intake bolts were loose as well. Is it okay to use threadlock?

 

[wood1]

Hey dude, welcome back.

I have never used thread locker on bolts for a thermostat housing, as long as they are properly tightened they shouldn't back off.

As far as the intake bolts on the SOHC I haven't really read much about them as I do not have one. The OHV is well documented for having loose lower intake bolts though.

Hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[Sbyrne97]

I would never use thread-lock on a bolts for a thermostat...Thread lock is usually used wherever bolts will stay mostly permanently (specific Body to Frame bolts)...using thread-lock will make it a lot harder to take the thermostat bolts out again

my 2 cents

 

[koda2000]

there are 3 different type of thread locker. blue, green and red. blue is for preassembly and is medium strength. green is for already assembled parts and the red is super strength (considered permanent). blue is most commonly used and there's no problem using it. i use it on anlything i'm concerened with keeping bolts/nuts tight without having to overtighten (eg: caliper bolts).

 

[Drg racr]

Well, found out that the lower housing o-ring is bad. I've been doing some research, and it looks like a PITA to change. One site says that I should replace the housing. I'll do some searching here and see if anyone has done it.

 

[snoranger]

I wouldnt use thread lock on any of the bolts that thread into the plastic intake or into the brass inserts in the plastic.

Threadlockers generally attack plastic. Something I've learned from 20+ years of R/C cars: If you want bolts to stay tight in plastic, use a drop of CA (crazy glue), if you want it to weaken the plastic and break, use thread locker.

Speaking of cracking, its common for brass inserts to break free and spin in the plastic. Thread locker will guaranty that happens next time you remove the bolts.

 

[Drg racr]

Thanks for the tip.