cooling system question
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New User
Joined: Nov 2008
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cooling system question
hi everyone,new here and have a question for anyone that may have an answer.i have a 1989 ford f 250 with 5.8 liter,my question is about a couple of things.im concerned that my water pump isnt working properly ,the reason is that my temp gauge doesnt move any farther than the n on normal for the temp,the heater doesnt get very hot and there is plenty of antifreeze in the radiator.i have taken the radiator cap off and waited for the thermostat to opent up and watch the flow,i dont get any real flow it kind of loops out of the radiator.while im driving the truck it nevers gets out even if i sat for a bit,and in the past week that i have driven it daily i never see any leaks.so im wondering what could be the deal?? i dont know if my thermostat is working or if the water pump is working and if not why doesnt it ever over heat? my drive to work is 20 some miles,it does blow out warm enough to keep it warm,but i just dont feel that it will get hot enough to defrost the windshield when i need it to.anyone know what i can do???
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 71
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From: Da U.P.
Sounds like the thermostat is toast. Maybe opening just a bit to allow you get get a bit of warmth, but not much. If the pump was shot, you'ld have overheated long before 20 miles. Pop a new t-stat in, bet that's your problem. My $.02, for what it's worth.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
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Gets my vote.
Der Postmeister
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,859
Likes: 560
From: Long Beach, Calimexiforia
Go get a balanced performance thermostat made by Mr. Gasket Kragen auto parts carries them. I think if you actually have a thermostat, it's probibly rated at 180F. which is not good because it keeps you in over rich warmup cycle Limbo. w/o the benifit of PCM air/fuel trim. I don't know how it does it but it goes from cold start to OperationTemp allowing the PCM to quickly enter closed loop function within a few blocks from my house .Anyway have them check what stock temp should be. It's probibly 195F but won't be less than 190F Then enjoy your heater
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 41
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A thermostat change is probably a good idea. Pep boys gave me a 165 degree one and I experienced the symptoms ymeski described. Check the coolant sensor supply voltage as well as sensor resistance across a temp range to rule signal out as a problem.
Something else worth trying out is to put a high quality temperature sensor in your system; the factory gauge is sort of a ball park device. You can pull your radiator's top tube and drop in a good remote thermometer (like this one: Test Instruments > Temperature and Humidity Measuring > Thermometers > Thermometer,Digital : Grainger Industrial Supply ) then do some field research. When I did it, I discovered that then engine wasn't really as cold as I thought it was (eventually about 185 after everything was open and stable).
Regardless of whether you decide to do that extra step, the right temp thermostat is a cheap operation that's relatively easy and a good place to start. Just be sure to take care not to over-tighten the thermostat housing, the bolt tabs will snap off and leak coolant....and then you get to do the procedure all over again...
Something else worth trying out is to put a high quality temperature sensor in your system; the factory gauge is sort of a ball park device. You can pull your radiator's top tube and drop in a good remote thermometer (like this one: Test Instruments > Temperature and Humidity Measuring > Thermometers > Thermometer,Digital : Grainger Industrial Supply ) then do some field research. When I did it, I discovered that then engine wasn't really as cold as I thought it was (eventually about 185 after everything was open and stable).
Regardless of whether you decide to do that extra step, the right temp thermostat is a cheap operation that's relatively easy and a good place to start. Just be sure to take care not to over-tighten the thermostat housing, the bolt tabs will snap off and leak coolant....and then you get to do the procedure all over again...
