Nappa Thermostat $$
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Nappa Thermostat $$
I was droping off my company car at the Frod dealer yesterday, and was checking pricing with the parts guy on a bunch of stuff I need to do to my PSD. They quoted me $39.00 for the stock Motor Craft thermostat & $35.00 for a new housing. I was like dang I'm getting the 203*, and housing for around the same maybe a little more.
I checked Nappa's price on line and thier thermostat # 373195 comes in at $8.99 is this the right part, and if so why so much cheaper, also has anyone had any problems with a Napp T-stat?
Thanks
Rich
I checked Nappa's price on line and thier thermostat # 373195 comes in at $8.99 is this the right part, and if so why so much cheaper, also has anyone had any problems with a Napp T-stat?
Thanks
Rich
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 1
From: Northern Colorado
I may be wrong, but I have heard to stay away from the auto parts thermostats because the lower stem is too short. Hopefully someone will pop in with a good explaination as to why. When I replaced mine with BCD 203º, I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking under it to see exactly what was under it but I believe there is a valve that the stem hits as it opens.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
Stay away from the auto parts store thermostat. It will not work. Here is the info on one that does work.
Info from DieselSite.
Until 1996, all 7.3L Powerstrokes that were manufactured used an International water pump and an International short stem 203o thermostat . In 1996, Ford changed to a lower degree 195o thermstostat. They changed water pump designs at this time as well. The new pumps required the new long stem 195o thermostat in place of the short stem to properly seat the bypass disk. All 1996-2003 Ford PSDs now come equipped with a long stem 195o thermostat.
.....
Although International still uses a 203o thermostat in some applications and that thermostat is available at most auto parts stores, it is the wrong part for the 1996 - 2003 Powerstroke. DO NOT USE THIS! It has a shorter shaft and will not shut off the internal pump bypass. This will cause inaccurate coolant flow direction through the engine.
The thermostat in the Powerstroke not only controls operating temperatures, but properly directs the flow of coolant through the engine. As the thermostat opens, it proportionally closes the bypass. With the thermostat fully open, the bypass is mostly closed, and vice versa. With the International (Pre-96 Ford) thermostat, this cannot be controlled properly because of the shorter bypass stem. The shorter stem of the IH(pre-96 Ford) thermostat allows the thermostat to be fully open while the bypass is fully open. This means the coolant can travel in any direction available -- whatever direction it chooses. It can either travel through the radiator or simply make the shorter, less restrictive path back through the front of the engine. This will cause uncontrolled overheating in the back cylinders of the block, with absolutely no signs of danger showing on the water temperature gauge in the cab. It is possible that the back of the engine can have no coolant flow at all yet the thermometer in the outlet of the water pump shows all to be normal. Multiple things can happen at this point. Cylinders can seize, freeze plugs can fall out and other normal symptoms of an overheating engine may occur. Worst case is a blown motor and it won't be covered under warranty.
We know the warranty departments and engineers at Ford have verified engine loss due to the short stem thermostats in previous cases where people were sticking into their trucks to increase their operating temperatures. As soon as they see the short shaft thermostat -it's your problem. Our 203o thermostat will not encounter these problems! It's designed to work as the OEM unit did WITH the long stem for bypass protection.
.....
Although International still uses a 203o thermostat in some applications and that thermostat is available at most auto parts stores, it is the wrong part for the 1996 - 2003 Powerstroke. DO NOT USE THIS! It has a shorter shaft and will not shut off the internal pump bypass. This will cause inaccurate coolant flow direction through the engine.
The thermostat in the Powerstroke not only controls operating temperatures, but properly directs the flow of coolant through the engine. As the thermostat opens, it proportionally closes the bypass. With the thermostat fully open, the bypass is mostly closed, and vice versa. With the International (Pre-96 Ford) thermostat, this cannot be controlled properly because of the shorter bypass stem. The shorter stem of the IH(pre-96 Ford) thermostat allows the thermostat to be fully open while the bypass is fully open. This means the coolant can travel in any direction available -- whatever direction it chooses. It can either travel through the radiator or simply make the shorter, less restrictive path back through the front of the engine. This will cause uncontrolled overheating in the back cylinders of the block, with absolutely no signs of danger showing on the water temperature gauge in the cab. It is possible that the back of the engine can have no coolant flow at all yet the thermometer in the outlet of the water pump shows all to be normal. Multiple things can happen at this point. Cylinders can seize, freeze plugs can fall out and other normal symptoms of an overheating engine may occur. Worst case is a blown motor and it won't be covered under warranty.
We know the warranty departments and engineers at Ford have verified engine loss due to the short stem thermostats in previous cases where people were sticking into their trucks to increase their operating temperatures. As soon as they see the short shaft thermostat -it's your problem. Our 203o thermostat will not encounter these problems! It's designed to work as the OEM unit did WITH the long stem for bypass protection.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
While I'm a couple of days late on this post I do have good info. Tha Stant part I was given at Advance Auto here in Michigan has the long shaft like the dealership and is only 12 dollars instead of 39 dollars at the dealership. I have used a digital caliper to verify the length and size of the seat to the factory part and they are both the same. The internarional part for this engine is the short shaft and will not work properly and is 26 dollars anyways.
The napa part#373195 also has the long shaft for the bypass. While I havent measured it, the part looks identical to the Stant from Advance auto so I'm not sure why we shouldn't use it. The only difference I see between factory and aftermarkes is the seal on the moving part of the thermostat has a rubber seal on the factory one and aftermarket seals metal to metal like a standard thermostat. I have been using the Stant in mine for a year with no bad results, but why should I with the store part being the same dimensions as the Ford one that needs to be gold plated to be worth the $39 their asking for it.
The napa part#373195 also has the long shaft for the bypass. While I havent measured it, the part looks identical to the Stant from Advance auto so I'm not sure why we shouldn't use it. The only difference I see between factory and aftermarkes is the seal on the moving part of the thermostat has a rubber seal on the factory one and aftermarket seals metal to metal like a standard thermostat. I have been using the Stant in mine for a year with no bad results, but why should I with the store part being the same dimensions as the Ford one that needs to be gold plated to be worth the $39 their asking for it.
Last edited by kb8pgc; Feb 8, 2006 at 05:27 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
if you want to upgrade, might as well do it right with the first time. my order from Dieselsite is coming tomorrow. it consists of a Coolant filter, 203* T-stat and the billet housing. read up on the billet housing and why to use that instead of the stock soft metal one.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Originally Posted by ford390gashog
napa sells both the short and long.
But the one they sell for the 99-03 specifically is fine, when I checked online it only came with the one part number. Being a standard size hole, finding the wrong one is easy if you don't look it up, but the right part is the only one that comes up when properly looked up.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 61
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From: Michigan
Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
if you want to upgrade, might as well do it right with the first time. my order from Dieselsite is coming tomorrow. it consists of a Coolant filter, 203* T-stat and the billet housing. read up on the billet housing and why to use that instead of the stock soft metal one.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
if you want to upgrade, might as well do it right with the first time. my order from Dieselsite is coming tomorrow. it consists of a Coolant filter, 203* T-stat and the billet housing. read up on the billet housing and why to use that instead of the stock soft metal one.
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