cooling problem?
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From: staten island
cooling problem?
I don't know if that aerostar cooling gauge is acting up or if there is a problem. Seems that today the gauge has risen all the way to half. It never goes above the o in normal. Then slowly sinks down to the bottom. This cycle has been going on all day. Coolant seems to be ok. Thermostat is about a month old. What do you think? Waterpump? A good flush? Fan cluth has no play but feels a little stiff even when the motor is cold. Thanks.
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if you did not put a ford thermostat in there its time to do so. i replaced mine with a NAPA one and had to take it back out. it did what you said yours is doing. i do not think it is your gage. the only other thing that will do what you say is a head gasket leaking exhaust gas into the water and when the gas hits the sensor it makes it rise and then when the coolant hits it it goes back down.
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From: staten island
I tried to be careful about bleeding the air. I left the radiator cap off a long time and a lot of air did escape. I also removed the cap a few other times to try and vent the leftover air. Why is the Ford thermostat the only one to use? It seems the bypass on the thermostat would just keep air moving along with a little water. Is there another reason?
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the ford thermostat seems to open and close gradually. the napa one seems to stay close for a long time, temp gauge goes pretty high, then it opens all the way cold water make the gage go way back down to cold then the thermostat closes again,then the cycle starts over again and again untill the water in radiator is evenly warm with engine water.
it would prolly be ok if ya had a ediot light and did not see what is going on. i think the thermostat was made by ford to work with the temp gauge.
for the cost of it i think its not worth screwing with after market ones.
it would prolly be ok if ya had a ediot light and did not see what is going on. i think the thermostat was made by ford to work with the temp gauge.
for the cost of it i think its not worth screwing with after market ones.
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Lasher is correct, at least very close on this one. I have a friend who works at a Ford dealership service dept. He says the NAPA and other aftermarket thermostats are made to be used in many other applications, not just Ford engines. In which case, small cornors are cut in the manufacturing process, which manifests itself in small (but annoying) problems in Aerostars and Ford products. I also am told that Napa might list three different part numbers for a thermostat, yet the part inside the box, is the same item for all three part #s. For thermostats, it's best to use the Motorcraft part, the exact part used and tested in the Ford engine it was designed for. Computer controlled, modern engines, it's important to use the correct thermostat for emissions and driveability issues. 
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From: earth
The NAPA thermostat costs me a Toyota 22R engine. I have a shop change the stat. since I have to replace the hose service. I figure it has been 3 years so a new stat. is in order anyway. Well, after change to the NAPA, I got the same symtomp like Lasher, the mechanic reaasure me that my digital gauge is at fault, not the new stat. Well it's overheat and the next thnink I know is water in the oil and the engine froze! An expensive lesson!
OTOH, I have used Stan (made in USA) 180 degree for my 94 Aero and the Temp has been down and stable around the letter N. So far I have driven over 7,000 mile already wothout problem yet. The reason I used Stan instead of Ford, because Ford doesn't offer anything but ONLY 195 degree. I have examined and compared both Stan's and Ford's, they are very similar in details, obviously theyappear coming from the same manuf.
Fordguy49
OTOH, I have used Stan (made in USA) 180 degree for my 94 Aero and the Temp has been down and stable around the letter N. So far I have driven over 7,000 mile already wothout problem yet. The reason I used Stan instead of Ford, because Ford doesn't offer anything but ONLY 195 degree. I have examined and compared both Stan's and Ford's, they are very similar in details, obviously theyappear coming from the same manuf.
Fordguy49
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