TStat and Coolant opinions

[BradE.]

Hi guys,

My T-Stat finally bit the dust (does not even come off cold anymore) so I need to replace it. Anybody have preferences for certian T-Stat's? I can get a Stant SuperStat for about $7 from NAPA, it a 195 degree. Does anyone have expierence with the "fail safe" T-Stats? I can't find them anywhere, I saw one one Advance Auto Parts website but it was $21.99! Plus you need to pay shipping because the stores don't stock them.

Is Peak antifreeze any good? I figure while I am changing the T-Stat it's a good time for a flush and fill, my coolant looks pretty nasty. My local AutoZone is selling the Peak 50/50 Pre-Mixed Coolant on sale right now for $3.99 gallon. Whatcha think?

Thanks.

 

[Bashman]

I had a failsafe t-stat in my Talon. It did it's job. When it failed it stayed open allowing the engine to stay cool. Of course it was late winter when it went and I had no heat but the engine wasn't harmed at all. I spent the extra $$ for another failsafe.

 

[Opera House]

Maybe I'm just cheap

I buy the low cost ones and always drill a little 1/16 inch hole on the top to let any bubbles pass when the engine is off. This isn't rocket science and they are easy to get to. Only T-stats I've seen fail are the ones that come from the factory in the engine. And those are good ones! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[BradE.]

Anybody know where you can buy the fail safe's? I can't seem to find anywhere that stocks them.

 

[VOATMJ1]

Opera House is right, in all of the years that I have driven cars/trucks, I NEVER had any T-stat problems until I bought my first Ford product, a Bronco II in '86.

Went though 2 Motorcrap ones, in 3 years, then changed to a cheap NAPA one, that damn thing lasted 6 years, and was in the vehicle when I traded it in for my Explorer. STILL WORKING!!

My Explorer is barely 2 years old, and you guessed it the stock Motorcrap T-stat went out, so learning from what I did form my Bronco, put in a NAPA one last week. I should be ok for a few years.

 

[Explorer46L]

I like the Stant 180* stats. Work great but aren't too cold like the 160*s