On my 2000 F250 the bottom of the radiator where the hose goes in is cheap plastic and I broke it, so the only fix was an entire new radiator. With my luck they didn't have the same one, my radiator was a single core and the new one was a double core. I thought this would be better, but as it turns out now my truck doesn't warm up to the same temperature as before. I thought the next step would be get a hotter thermostat but the hottest one they had at my local store was 195 which is what is suppossed to be the one in there. I wasn't sure if it would hurt my truck running cooler but now that its winter it isn't hot enought to get my heater hot, it gets warm, but not hot. any suggestions?

 

Rodeostar, generally speaking the thermostat regulates the temperture of your engine. You should change your thermostat and check the difference, a 6-year old thermostat is well beyond its service life, which is generaly about 2 years. You did not say what the condition of your old radiator was, it could have been plugged to a certain extent, and that the plugged radiator and the worn thermostat worked together for a good operating temperture. The new thermostat should do the job.

 

rodeostar, having a 2 core radiator has nothing to do with the truck not warming up. the thermostat stays closed when the engine is first started and stays closed until the engine reaches the 195 operating temp. when it reaches the 195 temp of the thermostat, it opens letting cold coolant flow into the engine. then the thermostat closes because of the cold coolant touching it, then the engine temp will drop slightly until it heats up that coolant. and the cycle continues. if your thermostat is stuck open, when you first start your truck in the morning, the coolant will flow through the engine and the radiator. this will take a longer time to warm up all the coolant in the engine and the radiator because the open thermostat doesn't give the engine time warm the coolant to operating temp. if it is stuck closed, the coolant, once heated up to 195, will not be able to return to the radiator, besides a little bit from the bypass, causing the truck to overheat. SOUND TO ME THAT MAYBE YOURS IS STARTING TO STICK OPEN IN THE MORNINGS. WERE YOU WORKING ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM WHEN YOU BROKE THE RADIATOR? IF SO, I WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A STOCK TEMP THERMOSTAT. THAT SHOULD SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. UNLESS THE WATER PUMP IS BAD. BUT THEN AGAIN, IF IT WAS, THE TRUCK WOULD OVERHEAT BECAUSE EVEN IF THE THERMOSTAT WAS WORKING, IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THE COOLANT OUT OF THE ENGINE ONCE THE THERMOSTAT OPENED.

 

If you have a PSD, upgrade to a 203 degree thermostat, billet housing and a NAPA 9066 hose. Like the other guys said, the thermostat is the first thing I would change.

 

i agree with the thermostat idea

 

thank you all, I might try that this weekend. I just dont understand, it warms up quickly(like the thermostat is shut) then when the thermostat opens it cools too much and doesn't get to the correct running temp, but I do see your point about the thermostat shutting again if it cooled too much, so I will try it. Thanks all

 

Is it a PSD? Or gasser? big difference.

It sounds like the heater core is dirty, and changing the radiator made all the flow go through the radiator instead of an equal shot at the rad and the heater core.

But that's just a theory

If you have a shutoff valve for the heater core, make sure it works.

art k.

 

Art, No shut off valve on 2000 superduty's heater core unless you installed one
Change your thermostat. Its open all the time as stated before.
Make sure you use the recomended antifreeze and don't mix brands ,things can get corosive inside an eat the aluminum.
Rich

 

I thought the crew-cab had one... maybe in '03 or something, I'll shut up now.

 

its not that the heater isn't warm, the temp gauge is barely getting to the frist line.