Howdy aLL!
mY Buddies wife has a 06 4.0 Explorer. It overheated today and we just got it home. We are gonna the thermostat for GP....is there anything else we should look at?...is there any common problems that we are not aware of?
Thanks!

 

I may be sounding impatient but any ideas?....anyone?

 

Also, we were sold a 190* stat....is that the stock/right temp?

 

OK we have a delima/issue. There are 3 metal sleeves that appear to be sticking out too far. When we tighten it/thermostat up it appears to still be loose at the bottom of the housing even though the bolts are tightened all the way (bolt bound). If the sleeves were not there it looks like it would snug right up. I tried to tighten the bolts down w/o the top half of the thermostat housing to try and draw down the sleeves down but no luck. I have a 3 letter question I would like answered" WTF!!!?
Thanks for your help and patience!

 

A 190* is OK.. Engine must run >180* to make the CPU happy......

The thermostat should have a rubber ring (Gasket), is your missing???

On the initial overheat, was the system low on fluid??? Philip

 

Thanks for the reply Phill!

I do not know if it was low or not but I do know it is checked weekly so I ASSuMEd it was full. The ring was in there. It appeared to go in to "limp mode" before anything got trashed A friend of mine (who did not see the car) said it was most likely the thermostat housing. He said he has replaced almost 100 (recently retired Master Mechanic at Ford with over 20 years with them) and that is a weak spot on them. I think we are going to order a new one but I still want to hear what others think.
Thanks!

 

OK, the factory glue came unglued on the factory housing (under the thermostat itself). I am changing the housing now ($50 in parts less thermostat and gasket). I will do a write up when I am done (maybe help someone else in the same boat later down the road).
I'm dive'n in!!!............

 

GRRRRR! Water pump??? Replaced thed the thermostat housing (water outlet) and the glue started to come apart again due to heat.
Water pump is not leaking and there is no slop in the fan (bearings). Could the water pump not be pumping? Could the fins be as small as tick tacks and not be pushing any water? Very late...gonna get an early start again tomorrow. Going to start a new thread and listen for ideas.
Thanks fellas!

 

There's also a chance there is debris restricting air flow through the radiator, the radiator is restricted, or the fan clutch is not working properly. The Ford Taurus of the '90s had issues with water pump impellers dissolving and not pumping enough, but I haven't heard of that being an issue on the Explorer, especially a 2006.

-Rod

 

Thanks for the reply Rod!
I had a 96 Taurus that did that. I thought it was b/c I mixed green with red antifreeze. I was stationed in Germany at the time and had to wait on the part....anyway, How can we check the fan clutch?

 

fan has nothing to do with it running down the road. Fan only works when your setting still and dont have enough air flow. I think i would connect a garden hose and flush and see if water goes thru everything o.k., both directions.

 

LOL, I feel like a Rookie, Steve! After being at work since 3am yesterday, (w/4 hours of sleep prior) I was dragg'n gludious maximus last night. So at 11 er so last night after our thermo housing project I watched the needle peg out on HOT, I decided to put down the wrenches and think/sleep on it...
......FASTFWD to this am. The once full reservoir was empty and hit me! I let it run rad. capless and added bout another 3/4 gallon of antifreeze and vehicle came back to normal!
I couldn't see the forrest b/c all the trees were in the way!

LOL....I feel/felt like a Rookie! SHEESH!

 

Your adventure is the same as mine. I did the thermostat about a year ago. Gotta run it with the cap off to get all the air out. The overflow does not seem to help in this circumstance.