whats the difference between all the thremostats?

[NICE59FORDF100]

hi yall. i was reading somewhere the different types of t-stats, like all the different degrees. this is goin to sound stupid, but what is the difference in all of them, and which one would be best for my application? im goin today after work at 5 to autozone to get a heavy duty fan clutch, and i need to replace the t-stat as well, i just need to know which kind to get (i.e. 160, 180, 195?) thanks yall!

 

[Rhett]

Get the 195 degree stat. Some aftermarket chips require the use of a cooler stat, but you will want a 195 degree otherwise. Without a chip or other adjustments to the mix, your truck wouldn't run right with a 180 stat.

 

[aldive]

The 195 will yield better gas mileage.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

YA, BETTER MILAGE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. ugh, sorry for caps. aldive, what do you know about heavy duty fan clutches from autozone? the imperial ones? i have a nother post about it, but know one is writing, and you seem knowlegde able! anyway, thanks man!

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

by the way, only perfomance mods i have right now is a hypertech chip and ifab intake with cone filter...any difference of the t-stat?

 

[Alec]

192/195, lower temp tstats are usually not a good idea on our trucks.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

does autozone have the 195 t-stats? might as well make one trip

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by NICE59FORDF100
YA, BETTER MILAGE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. ugh, sorry for caps. aldive, what do you know about heavy duty fan clutches from autozone? the imperial ones? i have a nother post about it, but know one is writing, and you seem knowlegde able! anyway, thanks man!

I am not a fan of clutch fans; I like electric fans.

Take a look ar http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75371&highlight=electric+fan+install

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by NICE59FORDF100
does autozone have the 195 t-stats? might as well make one trip

Yes.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

ugh, sorry for all questions, but now i read somewhere that the ones from autozone have a wrong part number, and the t-stats are too small then the one that goes in my motor? and what type of radiaitor should i be running? again, sorry for all the questions, i know absolutly nothing about the cooling system. i just want to do this right. and also, what steps are involved in the changing of the t-stat? are you supposed to drian the coolent? is there a thread telling how to change it? my searches are proving fruitless (because im bored at work, ) thanks again guys!

 

[Opera House]

The store manual

said I needed a special thermostat for my 97 (like $20) and the number it gave wasn't on the rack. So I went back home and pulled it out to see what it looked like. It looked like all the other ones I had in my parts box. Of course they were all 180's. Drilled a little burp hole and put it in because the old one was stuck open. Durring the warmer months, I don't think the stat temperature matters much. Seems to go to the same temperature. Might change it before winter. Incidently, the last 2200 mile tirip got 19.5 mpg going with 2 weeks of local driving and almost 19.7 on the return trip. This was loaded and in the mountains. So, 180 doesn't seem to do much to the mileage.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

ok, i think i will get the heavy duty fan clutch tonight, then tommorow, before work, go to napa and get the t-stat and the radiator cap. but what is the right way to change a t-stat?

 

[KPT]

Drain the coolant (theres a drain plug on the bottom of the radiator at the passenger side). Take the bolts that hold the t-stat cover onto the engine off. I always stick a hose in the radiator then and run the engine with straight water for a little while to flush it. Clean the mating surfaces, put the new rubber O-ring on the t-stat and put everything back together.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

ok, so i drain the radiator. how many quarts of coolent am i expecting to leak out? i'd say the coolent is in fairly good condition, as it was changed last year when i had the heads redone...or is it still good? it is still the pretty green color

is the t-stat hard to get to? i mean, it seem pretty self explanitry (sp?) how to change it.

i dont think i can flush my motor properly has i am on well water with high calcium (my calcium levels are about 1300 ppm, normal is 200-400 ppm. (i work at a swimming pool place, ))

what mating surfaces would i need to clean? i know abou the oring on the t-stat.

what about this thing i hear called blurping? is it all the rave now a days? j/k, but seriously, how do i go about that? and also, what kind of replacment radiator cap do i need? do i need one?

my whole problem that needs to be fixed is the fan clutch, and the crazy needle on my temp gauge. it the needle moved any faster, i swear it would fly away. anyway, i know im bothering yall, but thank you so much for all the info. i learn something new everyday!

 

[aldive]

There is no need to drain the radiator to change the t stat.

 

[Rhett]

Just let a little coolant out, to where the coolant is below the t-stat level.

When you are at Autozone, be sure to rent the "Ford Fan Clutch Removal Tool", as you will want it to remove the four bolts that hold the fan to the clutch. If you have the fan, clutch, and shroud removed it will make it a lot easier to change the stat.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

how much coolent should i let out?

 

[aldive]

When you loosen the bolts a little will leak out, thats all thats needed.