i have a 01 F150 4.6L 4x4 with 243K on it...I have never changed the thermostat in it and I am the orginal owner...pulled it apart saturday and a bolt runs into the intake and one into the head..aluminum parts and steel bolts...they wont budge and I was afraid of breaking them any suggestions or should I take it to a shop? I have heat it just take it about 20minutes to get there.

 

I had to change the t-stat on my 01 crew cab the weeknd before christmas it was the first time it had been changed too, my bolts were shoulder bolts (looks like a washer under the head) and I was able to put a socket on and a long extension with a little 3/8 breaker bar and apply steady pressure while tapping down on the back of the breaker bar with a hammer, the jarring seemed to help it loosen, but both of my bolts went through the intake and in to the engine, one bolt came right out but the other took the persuading. This is just my experiance if you don't think they'll come out without breaking let some one else do it or proceed with extreme caution.

 

thank you sir...I will leave this one alone for now, have a new issue that poped up today with it...lol, it never ends.

 

Make sure the engine is cold like been sitting all day. Morning the best time to do it. A mechanic told me to ice it down if necessary then do the breaker bar bit. He told me heat was the worst thing to do.