Been reading about the 203 degree thermostat. My rig is a 96'. Will it help mine as well as the later models? It's going on but want some feed back on it.

 

It helped mine when I put one on two years ago. I know that there's been an evolution of the water pump on these engines over the years, so be sure the themostat you get fits your water pump.
I didn't have a problem with mine, but have heard of guys that did.

 

The older PSD, using the IH WP already have a 203* t-stat. When Ford switched to using its WP (I'm not sure when), that's when the change was made to the 195* t-stat.

 

From What I have Read, the 1995 model year is about the cutoff for the factory 203 'stat. Just check that the engine was made in 1996 and up and you will need to get the special 203* 'stat. Dieselstop has an article about this. Without this special one, circulation of coolant in the engine will not be correct.



POST 100

 

ford has always used there part number wtr pmp. The international wtr pmp has a coolant filter assembly on it which ford decided to take off

 

Will the temp on the gauge be any different?
Man I really hate having to pull that housing off. Took for ever to get it to stop leaking. Wish there was a billet one like for the later models. Oh well, I like a challenge!

 

How much do you benefit from the 203 t-stat mod? Is there any noticable difference, or just a peace of mind thing?

 

When I put on my 203* unit, I was replacing a 185* model. I saw a higher reading on the gauge, and more heat from the heater. Maybe it's just my imagination, but the truck seemed to run better afterwards, too.

 

When the engine is fully warmed, and the t-stat is fully opened, the t-stat has no effect on engine temp.

Think about it. Open is open. A t-stat can't be more than fully opened, and once the t-stat is fully opened, it is flowing as much coolant as it can.

The t-stat will attempt to keep the engine from dropping below a certain temp, 195* or 203*, and it will not allow coolant to be cooled by the radiator until that certain temp is reached.

 

The idea behind the hotter thermostat is to get the operating temperature to a higher level that is better for engine efficiency. The radiator on the Powerstrokes cools the the coolant so well that the operating temp of the engine is actually lower than the rating of the thermostat. The hotter thermostat allows the engine to operate closer to this range. Under a load the engine temp will be at the thermostat's rated temp.