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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

thermostat question????

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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 01:54 PM
  #1  
wiro351w's Avatar
wiro351w
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thermostat question????

i was wondering if my 1996 need the thermostat???
i didnt put it back in when i had to fix the water pump and timing chain cover..since it gets 110 degrees in the summer
now i think it uses more fuel then before.
if i do need a thermostat what is the lowest temp i should get.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 02:04 PM
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SCRebel
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You should have a 190* thermostat. So when you get to operating temp your thermostat will open until water less than 190 hits it. So it should only drop to like 180 or 185. Then back up to 190, where the stat opens again.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 02:07 PM
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I would think if you run without a stat your temp gauge will always run hot because you do not get a chance to cool the coolant down.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 02:09 PM
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Thats true if you're sitting still. But if you driving down the hwy and air is moving through the radiator then the engine never reaches operating temp.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 02:40 PM
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I can't speak definitively for the EFI systems on this truck, but newer EFI systems run rich until the engine comes up to temp just like chokes do on carb'd engines. If you're not running a T-stat, the engine will take forever to get up to temp, meaning you'll run richer longer. That could be affecting your mileage.

As for temp, just run whatever OEM is. I never got the idea behind running a lower temp t-stat. The engine is going to run at whatever temp it's going to run at. The only way your t-stat can affect that is if your engine actually WANTS to run cooler than what the t-stat is set to open for.

Mike
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 04:01 PM
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All '96 Fords came with a 192 degree thermostat (gas & diesel).
As posted above, you should stick with the same temp to ensure proper operation of the vehicle.
 
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 04:10 PM
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Eddiec1564
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I have 1st hand experiance with running no thermostat in my vehicles. Years ago my truck would get up in the high range of the temp guage but never over heated. I took out the t-stat thinking it will run cooler. I was totaly wrong. The truck keeped over heating like crazy till I put back a t-stat.

What was happening, the coolant was flowing too fast through the radiator not alowing it time to cool down and no matter how much air flowed accross the radiator, it still over heated too. The t-stat regulated the coolant flow enough so it had time to cool down.
 
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Old Apr 6, 2012 | 01:43 PM
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okay makes sense now my truck nardly even gets to the "n" on the temperture gauge. so that means im running rich, which is why i think its using more fuel. ill be putting a t-stat on today or tomorrow what temp and brand should i get????????
thanks for all of your help everyone!!
 
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