Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Cooling temp fluctuates

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 10, 2006 | 02:00 PM
  #1  
vhswrestler2005's Avatar
vhswrestler2005
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Cooling temp fluctuates

after i replaced my thermostat my temp started fluctuating(overheat/cooldown while driving) i think it's my thermostat sticking, i also replaced my radiator at the same time
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2006 | 06:16 PM
  #2  
srercrcr's Avatar
srercrcr
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
I've started to get a temperature reading that goes all over the place.
I'm sure it's the stat. All I can say is don't buy the cheapest.....get a Motorcraft.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2006 | 06:30 PM
  #3  
IB Tim's Avatar
IB Tim
FTE Leadership Emeritus
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by vhswrestler2005
after i replaced my thermostat my temp started fluctuating(overheat/cooldown while driving) i think it's my thermostat sticking, i also replaced my radiator at the same time
...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!

Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2006 | 07:17 PM
  #4  
RyanMiller's Avatar
RyanMiller
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Long island NY
sure its the acutal temp? mine uesd to bounce around before i cleaned up the groudn wires.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2006 | 12:33 AM
  #5  
Piffery1's Avatar
Piffery1
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
A thermostat installed backward (spring side toward radiator) can cause that symptom.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2006 | 01:30 AM
  #6  
big hoss 29's Avatar
big hoss 29
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 2
From: Billings Montana
Originally Posted by vhswrestler2005
after i replaced my thermostat my temp started fluctuating(overheat/cooldown while driving) i think it's my thermostat sticking, i also replaced my radiator at the same time
If you replaced the radiator, you might have an air pocket still trapped in the system.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2006 | 04:17 AM
  #7  
srercrcr's Avatar
srercrcr
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
I keep hearing about air pockets, yet somehow over the last forty years we never had such a problem. Just put coolant and water into the radiator and GO!
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2006 | 11:17 AM
  #8  
Piffery1's Avatar
Piffery1
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
In 50 years of vehicle ownership/maintenance I've never seen any problem I could attribute to an "air pocket". I suspect, as rough and irregular as the water passages in an engine are, turbulent flow would remove any air initially trapped within a matter of a few minutes after the thermostat opened.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 25, 2006 | 02:51 PM
  #9  
BroncJMU's Avatar
BroncJMU
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Sometimes my thermostat reading will jump around too. Where is it grounded?
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2006 | 09:07 PM
  #10  
Bdox's Avatar
Bdox
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Club FTE Silver Member

It grounds through the temp sender. When changing the stat it may have been disturbed causing erratic readings. Check the connection, make sure it's sound.

A sticking thermostat will most often stick in one position so I doubt that's it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 08:57 AM
  #11  
Neb86's Avatar
Neb86
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
I hope no one minds if I jump in here on the subject of air pockets...

Originally Posted by srercrcr
I keep hearing about air pockets, yet somehow over the last forty years we never had such a problem. Just put coolant and water into the radiator and GO!
When you drain your cooling system you get air in your engine's coolant passages. When you refill your system the air from the engine is trying to escape into the radiator through the thermostat. If your t-stat is good it will block the air from exiting. When the radiator is full there could still be air trapped behind the t-stat. It takes longer for the t-stat to open when it is not in direct contact with hot water so you could have a chance to overheat. Once the t-stat opens, the air bubble is gone and should operate normally after that. That's when you should let it cool down and top off your coolant.

I doubt an air pocket is the problem with vhswrestler2005's truck, though. It sounds more like a gauge problem or it could simply be low on coolant.
 
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2006 | 04:47 AM
  #12  
srercrcr's Avatar
srercrcr
Postmaster
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
I agree with that.
Many newer cars though are having air pocket problems that don't disapear, apparantly because the radiators are a lower profile, the air seeks the highest point which is in the engine, instead of in our trucks where it's the filler neck.
 
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2006 | 01:54 PM
  #13  
0270's Avatar
0270
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: rural area
It could aslo be your fan clutch? I know mine whent bad, and would overhead wile in town... but be perfectly fine past 30mph.. So i put an electric fan in there... problem solved.

Sometimes you can even get a bad new theromsdat
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:32 AM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE