Thermostat?
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From: DIXIE
Thermostat?
Hello all!
I have recently started driving my 1995 Ranger to work in an effort to save on gas. It has been pretty much sitting idle for about 8 mos and was only driven to Home Depot and back a handful of times during that period. Well, my commute is about 45miles each way (all interstate) and I am getting horrible gas mileage. I do have some clues, however, that point me toward the thermostat as the culprit.
1) When I crank the car after sitting all night I immediately hear water running through the heater.
2) The heater gets warm very quickly (as in less than 3 minutes) but never HOT
3) The temp gauge needle stays just about on the top right corner of the C printed on the guage face.
Does my diagnosis sound reasonable?
I have a 1995 Ranger 4cyl manual with 130k
Before i started driving it again I cleaned the MAF, changed all 8 sparkplugs with Bosch Platinums, replaced the front O2 sensor and waxed it real pretty-like.
I have recently started driving my 1995 Ranger to work in an effort to save on gas. It has been pretty much sitting idle for about 8 mos and was only driven to Home Depot and back a handful of times during that period. Well, my commute is about 45miles each way (all interstate) and I am getting horrible gas mileage. I do have some clues, however, that point me toward the thermostat as the culprit.
1) When I crank the car after sitting all night I immediately hear water running through the heater.
2) The heater gets warm very quickly (as in less than 3 minutes) but never HOT
3) The temp gauge needle stays just about on the top right corner of the C printed on the guage face.
Does my diagnosis sound reasonable?
I have a 1995 Ranger 4cyl manual with 130k
Before i started driving it again I cleaned the MAF, changed all 8 sparkplugs with Bosch Platinums, replaced the front O2 sensor and waxed it real pretty-like.
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From: DIXIE
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
i dont think a thermostat will cause you a loss in gas milage. i could be wrong but ill need that explained
Matt
Matt
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From: DIXIE
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
u said your heater was hot.. theirfore the engine is too
Matt
Matt
Of course the heater would get warm if the thermostat is open but it may never reach the 180-190 degree operating range.
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From: DIXIE
Originally Posted by fordboy_52
ah, but still.... is the top hose warm? if its warm to hot the thermostat is fine...
Matt
Matt
I think that the fact that I immediately hear the coolant flowing through the heater at a cold crank, coupled with the fact that the engine temp always stays low proves that my engine is running too cold and therefore too rich.
Last edited by jbabbler; May 2, 2006 at 10:21 AM.
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From: Maine
You say that the gauge never moves past the C. Did it used to? My '97 4-cyl runs with the temp gauge right in the middle, but that seems to be somewhat unusual for a 4-cyl from what I've seen on FTE. A lot of guys trucks run cooler than that.
Thermostats are cheap, and often do not last forever. If it was my truck, I'd change it out.
*Side note, a lot of people here have not had good luck with Bosch plugs in Rangers. I think there is some info on it in the Tech sticky. I doubt that's your problem, though.
Thermostats are cheap, and often do not last forever. If it was my truck, I'd change it out.
*Side note, a lot of people here have not had good luck with Bosch plugs in Rangers. I think there is some info on it in the Tech sticky. I doubt that's your problem, though.
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From: Fleming Ga
Originally Posted by jbabbler
With all due respect, I would agree if the problem were related to the thermostat sticking closed. If it were stuck closed, the coolant would never flow and the engine would overheat. The upper hose would never get warm because there would be no flow. In my case, its stuck open so coolant is always flowing and the thermostat never closes. The coolant will be warm because the engine is running but the thermostat is never closing to regulate the engine temperature and keep it in the 180-190 range. My guess is that the engine is running on the closed loop because it is too cold.
I think that the fact that I immediately hear the coolant flowing through the heater at a cold crank, coupled with the fact that the engine temp always stays low proves that my engine is running too cold and therefore too rich.
I think that the fact that I immediately hear the coolant flowing through the heater at a cold crank, coupled with the fact that the engine temp always stays low proves that my engine is running too cold and therefore too rich.
Post Fiend
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Ok well I'll jump in (late). It's the thermostat. I'll bet ya ten bucks on it.
And yes, no Bosch's. Not a good reputation around here on them, from anybody really. I stick with Ford Racing plugs/wires. But that's just me.
RP
Zach
And yes, no Bosch's. Not a good reputation around here on them, from anybody really. I stick with Ford Racing plugs/wires. But that's just me.
RP
Zach
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From: riverside
Why not just take it apart and see? Its not hard nor is it expensive. If its not the thermostat all ya lost is a little bit of coolant if it is, you lost a little bit of coolant and 5 bucks for another thermostat.
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Why don't you start it cold with the hood up and hold the top hose, it should remain
cold until the stat opens and then should be that hot you can't hold onto it for very long. If on start up it trickles warm through the hose a new stat is in order.
cold until the stat opens and then should be that hot you can't hold onto it for very long. If on start up it trickles warm through the hose a new stat is in order.
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From: DIXIE
UPDATE!
Yup. It was a bad thermostat. Engine now operating in the mid point between C and H and gas mileage has returned to the normal 27mpg range. What a PITA to change though. Scheeeeeech.
Yup. It was a bad thermostat. Engine now operating in the mid point between C and H and gas mileage has returned to the normal 27mpg range. What a PITA to change though. Scheeeeeech.
