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203* t-stat

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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 07:34 PM
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203* t-stat

i just put in my new t-stat today and wow!!! i had no idea what it would do. i always had good heat, but holly cow no it burns my fingers.. it always ran right on the bottom line of normal, now it runs right in the middle of normal then drops to the r when the t-stat opens, i swear i can feel alot more power, still awaiting to see the gains in fuel mileage. my old stat didn't appear to be stuck open but now my fan doesn;t run all the time, so i think that is where i a am seeing the power gain. i recommend this to anyone who doesn;t have it, it really is cool to get results from something so simple!!
 
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 07:56 PM
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Did you have to replace the neck, too? Some folks say they get leaks after they replaced the T-Stat.

BTW...Welcome to FTE.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:52 PM
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I just replaced mine about a week ago and flushed the radiator. I thought the old t-stat was stuck open because the truck would not even get close to warm, but to my suprise, there wasn't even a thermostat in there. Now it warms up and the guage reads right at the "r" on the normal. Also replaced the neck, it only made sense, since the old had to come off anyway. Except for the rubber o-ring, I didn't use any kind of gasket with the neck and haven't had any problems with leaking.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 10:26 PM
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Make sure to get a new a neck or else it well leak replaced my water pump and didn't replace the neck and it leaked so pulled the pump off again and siliconed the outside and put it back on and then it still leaked turns out it was the neck that was a bad put helpful mistake
 
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 10:32 PM
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yeah i got a new neck with the t-stat, not a drop comin out! my old one was looking pretty iffy, i'm glad i just got the new one with it!
 
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 11:01 PM
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I replaced my T-stat about 8 months ago and I also noticed an increase in power. The heater works awesome too. I did not change the neck and I don't have any leaks. I am happy about that. Glad to hear you like the change.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 06:03 AM
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What T-stat did you go with?
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 11:30 AM
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the 203* from desielsite.com
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 11:32 AM
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I went with the Napa part. It is a 203* thermostat.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 11:57 AM
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94 and 95 uses a different pump housing and uses the shorter stem 203* stat, available anywhere. 96 and 97 uses the longer stem stat from Ford and is 193*. Problem with the 193* Ford stat is it starts to open at 170* and with the efficiency of our cooling systems pretty much stays at that temperature unless you are really working the engine. Diesel Site stat starts opening at 190* and is fully opened at 203*.

With that being said, still in the winter months I have trouble getting the engine up to full operating temps on shorts 20 mile trips, although I can feel the cab temperature come up quicker, or so my old bones tell me.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 09:37 PM
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I just put a new water pump on my truck today, along with a new T Stat (stock replacement). Now my truck will go to the R in normal. Is that about right? Before my T stat had been sticking open, so it never got past the N. Is the R about right?
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by MustangMatt96GT
I just put a new water pump on my truck today, along with a new T Stat (stock replacement). Now my truck will go to the R in normal. Is that about right? Before my T stat had been sticking open, so it never got past the N. Is the R about right?

Yes, that is right where you want it.
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 09:42 PM
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It feels like its got more power now thats for sure....

but man I cannot believe how shot my old water pump was.... the bearing in it is so bad, that you can shake the water pump and hear a bunch of metal pieces rattling around in there... and there is like a 1/2 inch of play that it was wobbling.....

Glad to have my truck back, after the weekend of driving a duramax... it was nice, but I like MY truck better...
 
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Old Aug 30, 2009 | 10:22 PM
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Good to hear it.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2009 | 07:57 AM
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How does the 203* give more power? I've heard about guys doing this mod but don't know much about it.
 
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