PROBLEM Need Some help.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
PROBLEM Need Some help.
I have an 86 F250 4x4 with a 460. My problem is I am having thermostat problems all of a sudden.
I have a Stewart Warner mechanical gauge temp gauge. This truck has a new radiator, new water pump, new fan clutch, new timing chain,& new hoses. I have never had a heating problem in the past. I had a thermostat stick on me this last May. The temp never got above 240 degrees and only for a very short time a few seconds. So when I got to Kingman AZ. I bought aa AutoZone fail-safe 180 degree thermostat. Installed it and it worked fine for 3 months. when I came back north. and the weather cooled off I realized the thermostat was stuck open and I wasn't getting water temp over 150 degrees. So I went to CarQuest bought a 180 degree thermo. installed it and it would run to 180 at idle when I would drive it it would go from 180 to 200 for awhile then jump to 240 and cool right back to 200 degrees. I drove it 40 miles with no better results. So this AM I installed a used 180 CarQuest themo I had and it would run a steady 200 degrees drove it 50 miles and no problem. I bought 2 more new thermostats on Carquest one Napa both top of their lines. installed the Napa and it started doing what the first one did. I did pull it before it cooled and it was wide open. I installed the new CarQuest and again after a 50 mile drive the temp was all over the place.
Does anyone have any ideas. ALL I CAN FIGURE ARE BAD THERMOSTATS, I had them before but THIS MANY. I have heated water on the stove and only the Napa would open at 190 degrees. The rest at 200 degrees. would be closed by 180 degrees.
I'm fresh out of thought PLEASE SOMEONE throw something out. PLEASE.
I have a Stewart Warner mechanical gauge temp gauge. This truck has a new radiator, new water pump, new fan clutch, new timing chain,& new hoses. I have never had a heating problem in the past. I had a thermostat stick on me this last May. The temp never got above 240 degrees and only for a very short time a few seconds. So when I got to Kingman AZ. I bought aa AutoZone fail-safe 180 degree thermostat. Installed it and it worked fine for 3 months. when I came back north. and the weather cooled off I realized the thermostat was stuck open and I wasn't getting water temp over 150 degrees. So I went to CarQuest bought a 180 degree thermo. installed it and it would run to 180 at idle when I would drive it it would go from 180 to 200 for awhile then jump to 240 and cool right back to 200 degrees. I drove it 40 miles with no better results. So this AM I installed a used 180 CarQuest themo I had and it would run a steady 200 degrees drove it 50 miles and no problem. I bought 2 more new thermostats on Carquest one Napa both top of their lines. installed the Napa and it started doing what the first one did. I did pull it before it cooled and it was wide open. I installed the new CarQuest and again after a 50 mile drive the temp was all over the place.
Does anyone have any ideas. ALL I CAN FIGURE ARE BAD THERMOSTATS, I had them before but THIS MANY. I have heated water on the stove and only the Napa would open at 190 degrees. The rest at 200 degrees. would be closed by 180 degrees.
I'm fresh out of thought PLEASE SOMEONE throw something out. PLEASE.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,351
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
Not only that but the timing, if out, will cause the engine to overheat as well. I second 4-fords recommendation to check the gauge just as you would the thermostats in a pot of boiling water.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
Thanks for the input. Timing is 12 degrees I at 5000 ft of elev. The gauge was my next thought.
This AM I put in another thermostat from NAPA. Loosened the gauge bulb and bleed any air out. Took it out and it ran 190-205 steady no fast fluctuations no going over 205. Ran 195-200 real steady @ 55-65 MPH. Ran it about 10 miles and seems fine. Again thanks for your responses. This was about to drive me NUTS and I'm already alittle off center anyway. Being and old mechanic it really just left me scratching my head.
This AM I put in another thermostat from NAPA. Loosened the gauge bulb and bleed any air out. Took it out and it ran 190-205 steady no fast fluctuations no going over 205. Ran 195-200 real steady @ 55-65 MPH. Ran it about 10 miles and seems fine. Again thanks for your responses. This was about to drive me NUTS and I'm already alittle off center anyway. Being and old mechanic it really just left me scratching my head.
