Thermostat Problems - 1985 F150
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Joined: May 2005
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Thermostat Problems - 1985 F150
Hey everyone,
I'm replacing the thermostat in my truck. I took the hoses off the housing, took the 2 bolts out and pulled it off.
The old thermostat and it's gasket came off in almost 1 piece, and I cleaned it a bit but I don't really know how clean the surfaces are supposed to be.
I had some trouble getting it back together, I'm not sure how the thermostat is supposed to be positioned, since it's round in a round hole, does it matter which was is up or down? I'm not really sure if it went in correctly.
When I got it all back together and turned it on, it leaks like crazy! I'm not sure what to do, did I put the gasket on wrong or does it need to go a certain way?
I took it all apart again and cleaned it better but in the process I got sort of a lot of grease and stuff on the gasket does that matter? When I put it together again it still leaks.
Please if anyone has any tips or suggestions I would really appreciate it.
Thanks for you time,
TC
I'm replacing the thermostat in my truck. I took the hoses off the housing, took the 2 bolts out and pulled it off.
The old thermostat and it's gasket came off in almost 1 piece, and I cleaned it a bit but I don't really know how clean the surfaces are supposed to be.
I had some trouble getting it back together, I'm not sure how the thermostat is supposed to be positioned, since it's round in a round hole, does it matter which was is up or down? I'm not really sure if it went in correctly.
When I got it all back together and turned it on, it leaks like crazy! I'm not sure what to do, did I put the gasket on wrong or does it need to go a certain way?
I took it all apart again and cleaned it better but in the process I got sort of a lot of grease and stuff on the gasket does that matter? When I put it together again it still leaks.
Please if anyone has any tips or suggestions I would really appreciate it.
Thanks for you time,
TC
Last edited by TCornehl; Sep 5, 2007 at 07:20 PM.
New User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3
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If it's like mine....You can't hardly see the bottom area of where the housing seats to the head, and the ear gets hung on something, I don't even remember what, and it won't let the bottom area seat all the way. The first time I did it, I broke the ear off the thermostat housing...a couple years later I did it again...this time it didn't break the housing, but it leaked like heck.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
There is a small recess in the head (or manifold) that the thermostat fits into.
The side with the coil (looks like a spring) goes into the head (or manifold.)
(I helps to mention which engine you are dealing with.)
As far as "clean" is concerned, you should have smooth metal with no grit or particles. Discoloration does not matter. Be sure that you clean the threads in the bolt holes and on the bolts so that they will screw in easily by hand. Put grease on the bolt threads so that they don't rust.
There are several ways of doing this, but the method that I have adopted (after many years experience,) Is to make sure the metal surface is dry, use gasket cement to apply the gasket to the housing and let it dry. Set the thermostat in place. If it falls out, make sure the mating surfaces are dry and apply some grease to the recess (no surplus,) and that will hold the thermostat in the recess while you install the thermostat housing.
The side with the coil (looks like a spring) goes into the head (or manifold.)
(I helps to mention which engine you are dealing with.)
As far as "clean" is concerned, you should have smooth metal with no grit or particles. Discoloration does not matter. Be sure that you clean the threads in the bolt holes and on the bolts so that they will screw in easily by hand. Put grease on the bolt threads so that they don't rust.
There are several ways of doing this, but the method that I have adopted (after many years experience,) Is to make sure the metal surface is dry, use gasket cement to apply the gasket to the housing and let it dry. Set the thermostat in place. If it falls out, make sure the mating surfaces are dry and apply some grease to the recess (no surplus,) and that will hold the thermostat in the recess while you install the thermostat housing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Put a thin layer of RTV on the housing in your hand put on the gasket then put a thin layer of RTV on that. Let it sit for a while you want the rtv tacky (15min) Put silver antisieze on the threads threads liberally and bolt it on the manifold. The gasket surfaces should be all metal no old gasket paper on it at all. You might want to get a new one if you creased it! If you live in a hot climate drill a small hole through the flat metal towards the middle to make sure you always have positive flow or clip that little check valve deal off!
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 22
From: Florence, SC
If you live in a hot climate drill a small hole through the flat metal towards the middle to make sure you always have positive flow or clip that little check valve deal off!
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 69
From: New Zealand
It's to allow air to vent back up out of the motor after you refill the radiator, helping to prevent air-locks. It's big enough to let air through, but small enough that it doesn't slow warm-up by letting water circulate while still cold.
As long as your thermostat has that small hole & non-return valve, you shouldn't need to drill it
As long as your thermostat has that small hole & non-return valve, you shouldn't need to drill it
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