My van is too cool
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Junior User
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My van is too cool
97 Aerostar - 4.0L
My water temp gauge has always read in the low end of normal. Yesterday I noticed it stayed more toward to cold side barely making it into the normal range.
Things to note
My water temp gauge has always read in the low end of normal. Yesterday I noticed it stayed more toward to cold side barely making it into the normal range.
Things to note
- The fan comes on a few seconds after starting the engine. The clutch isn't stuck. This may be causing excessive cooling but I believe this has been occuring ever since I got the van a year ago. So nothings changed here to give a different reading than what I expect.
- I get heat in the vehicle. So the coolant is warming up.
- Out door temperature has been the same for the past few weeks (0-5C) so that shouldn't affect readings from day to day.
- What controls the fan clutch to switch on? Shouldn't it be water temp?
- I'm thinking it may be the gauge or the sending unit causing the problem. Any way to test those?
- Oil pressure fluctuates some times - all within the normal range. Are the water temp and oil pressure gauges linked at all? Could it be an electircal problem?
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Junior User
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The thermostat probably should be looked at and changed. A good place to start - thanks.
The reason I was thinking the gauge is suspect is because this past summer when it was really hot, the van would quit and wouldn't go again until it was cooled down. It sure seemed like an overheat situation but the water temp was still only in the high normal range. Maybe it was overheated and an innacurate sender/gauge showed it was normal.
As far as the fan goes, does anyone know what activates the clutch? Its not electrically activated like the a/c compressor is it?
The reason I was thinking the gauge is suspect is because this past summer when it was really hot, the van would quit and wouldn't go again until it was cooled down. It sure seemed like an overheat situation but the water temp was still only in the high normal range. Maybe it was overheated and an innacurate sender/gauge showed it was normal.
As far as the fan goes, does anyone know what activates the clutch? Its not electrically activated like the a/c compressor is it?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Puebla Mexico
The fan clutch does not activate by any electric switch. Indeed fan clutch is called "clutch" because it is gradually engaged as the engine temp ascends.
A "thermal spring" in the center of the Fan clutch is assembled.
A "thermal spring" in the center of the Fan clutch is assembled.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Vandenberg Air Force Base
Grab the fan and spin it. If its hard to turn, then replace it.
I have a '96 4.0L and I have had to replace the thermostat twice in 100K.
At 0-5 degrees c, your engine wouldn't have to heat up much for you to feel heat. Try placing a cardboard box in front of your radiator to block the incoming air.
I have a '96 4.0L and I have had to replace the thermostat twice in 100K.
At 0-5 degrees c, your engine wouldn't have to heat up much for you to feel heat. Try placing a cardboard box in front of your radiator to block the incoming air.
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Joined: May 2004
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I had exactly the same problem with my 94 4.0 equipped van. I replaced the thermostat and it warms up in two minutes now, as opposed to a half hour before. It's a pain getting at two of the bolts on the thermostat cover, with the tensioner pulley obstructing access.
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From: British Columbia
Tomorrow I'll be changing the thermostat for the third time in 2 1/2 years. This time I bought one from Ford, It's made in Germany so the quality is good, however they just changed the part # and now they are $26.00 CDN each! My temp gauge constantly goes from low-norm to mid-norm every few seconds and heat output is poor. I'm also changing the heater core tomorrow(unfortunately made in Mexico) and the heater hoses which Ford apparently no longer produces. Am going to use bulk hose and omit the useless quick disconnects.
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Junior User
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I changed the fan first. No change in engine temperature. But at least the loud howling is gone.
Changed the thermostat. Very easy to do. It would be even easier if I had a 10mm ratching wrench. Top passenger-side bolt is in a tight location with very little room to turn the wrench. Too small of a space for my socket.
And that did the trick. Lots of heat. Went from just past the line to the left of the N in NORMAL to about the O.
Changed the thermostat. Very easy to do. It would be even easier if I had a 10mm ratching wrench. Top passenger-side bolt is in a tight location with very little room to turn the wrench. Too small of a space for my socket.
And that did the trick. Lots of heat. Went from just past the line to the left of the N in NORMAL to about the O.
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From: denton tx
i converted mine to electric fan when my clutch went bad, now i can manually turn it on or off. it gets kind of annoying sometimes but it works really well. other than warm up, is there a problem with it being in the low temp range? mine seems to run a lot stronger whith the cooler temps, but i donno.
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A manual switch is fine but it takes constant monitoring of engine temp.
Is there a problem with it running in the low temp range? Good question. Does anyone know?
What if in the summer the thermostat was removed or always open. Is that a good thing to keep it that cool? I know I've had some oveheating issues when its really hot outside but it runs like a champ in the cooler weather.
Is there a problem with it running in the low temp range? Good question. Does anyone know?
What if in the summer the thermostat was removed or always open. Is that a good thing to keep it that cool? I know I've had some oveheating issues when its really hot outside but it runs like a champ in the cooler weather.
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I guess I let mine go stuck open for many months. During the summer the car got a tad hotter than it normally did, but when the cooler weather came, it just would not warm upamd my gas mileage dropped by almost 2 mpg. As soon as I replaced the the mostat, my gas mileage went back to where it was before and the van (4.0L) ran superb again. Do not wait.
BTW I have had great luck with Redline Water Wetter to help keep temps down...
BTW I have had great luck with Redline Water Wetter to help keep temps down...
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From: cincinnati hamilton
any body replace that funny rubber collar around the thermostat? i put a new thermostat in last year, but with the same rubber collar thing...i wonder about that, can it leak? its sandwiched in there pretty good....rick
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I don't think I would worry about it, but in the future it would be a good idea to replace it if you ever have to do it again.
I took mine into a garage and had mine replaced and it was a big mistake, they installed it backwords and the temp would rise and fall constantly. I took it back and they replaced it again and did the same thing. Finally I took it apart and fixed it myself, should have done it in the first place, but I was very busy at the time.
I took mine into a garage and had mine replaced and it was a big mistake, they installed it backwords and the temp would rise and fall constantly. I took it back and they replaced it again and did the same thing. Finally I took it apart and fixed it myself, should have done it in the first place, but I was very busy at the time.
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