I want to bring some attention to a problem I had and solved concerning Thermostats. As I wrote some time ago I Completely rebuilt my 1989 F-Superduty 460 engine due to excessive oil consumption. Well I put a new Stant super thermostat in it and had an issue of it heating to 240 degrees and then cooling back to 195 and finally settling there. I had this issue before I rebuilt the engine with another Stant Super thermostat. I even called Stant and was told I was getting and air pocket under the thermostat when the truck cooled off. and to insure that the radiator was completely full. Well I did everything to insure that the cooling system was full and still the problem continued. And then I went to Ford and bought a Motorcraft thermostart for the truck. And guess what? All problems went away the engine warms to about 200 and then settles dead on 195 and never moves. And the genuine Ford part was only $3.00 more than the highly touted Stant Super Thermostat. I suppose you can get a bad thermostat from Ford but It looks like you only get bad thermostats from Stant. STANT I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN USE YOUR PRODUCTS.

 

I have an '85 w/ 460 since new and have tried every thermostat ever made. The best one to use is a Robertshaw 180 degree. Designed for improved coolant flow and very stable operating temps; try it, you'll like it.

 

I recently replaced all hoses and thermostat; thermostat was an offshore brand from PartSource, and the engine would not heat up at all on a warm day. I put the old one back in and will exchange the new one for something else.

 

I fought a similar problem with erratic heating on my 94 Aerostar a few years ago. Once the original went bad, I could never get it to act right with an aftermarket thermostat. Bought one from my local Ford dealer and the heating problems were gone.

With an aftermarket thermostat my temp gauge would fluctuate up and down constantly. Drove me nuts.

 

Just putting back together my newly rebuilt 460 with a Mr. Gasket Hi-Flow 180 degree thermostat. Does anyone have any experience with this brand of thermostat, or should I go out and get a Robertshaw? Thanks!

 

The Motorcraft is only $10.50 from your Local Ford Dealer

 

The Mr. Gasket is the same as the good Robert Shaw. They work Great. I have used them.
Jimmy

 

i also have used all the aftermarket ones. my guage kept going all over the place also. i finally bought a stant and drilled a 1/8th inch hole in it and the temp stays right at the "E" on the gusge with no movement. might be worth the effort.

leo

 

Stant is also the same as most napa thermostats, and yes they do have their fair share of problems. I put a Ford in my 92 and it didnt even look close to the stant design, but it did look just like the Mr. Gasket design.

 

My problem is I have a new Carquest 180 and around town it will only get to 170, if I take it on the highway, or put a load on it it goes 180-190, somewhere in that range but holds steady. I did add some NOS water additive when I installed an Edelbrock manifold, an took off all smog, timing is 10 BTDC with non-ported vac. adv. I don't know before the changes it ran right with thermostat temp.