Help diagnose overheating issues, could be a simple solution...

[5spd GT]

Well a couple days ago my thermostat (Motorcraft 180*) was sticking and simply wouldn't open. I drove the car around very hot (very stupid). I knew the t-stat didn't open because my heater was blowing cold air when my car was running HOT! Anyways, I put in a Napa 195* t-stat in as a quick fix and it runs about a bar and a half hotter than my old t-stat...normal? Would it effect it that much?

I also didn't disconnect the battery...would that do anything to the ECU's timing?

And just a fyi question...but how exactly does a t-stat work? Do they have certain spring pressures set to compress under a certain heat pressure? Temp? What makes it open in relation to a certain temperature...?

Oh and it doesn't seem like I did any damage to the engine...but I remember it pinging real bad when it was real hot. Detonation.

 

[Daggar]

In the image, you can see that there's a small cylinder on the end of the t-stat that faces the motor. That cylinder is filled with wax. The car gets hot, the wax expands, and the plunger is unseated against the spring pressure. The temp that the stat opens at is varied (by manufacturer) by the type and/or amount of wax that's int he cylinder as well as the tension of the spring isntalled. The better t-stats are tuned to open and close more precisely than the some of the junkier ones that can be had at many auto parts stores.

Not disconeecting your battery should have had no effect whatsover. The AIT sensor and collant temp sensors are always varying in their readings and sending information back to the EEC. The EEC has no clue whatsoever that you changed the stat (nor does it care). All in knows is what the current readings are from your sensors.

You're the only person that can judge whether your motor was damaged or not (since none of us are there in front of your car) but it doesn't sound to me like you've done it any harm. You've got written out any symptoms of additional problems after changing the stat.

 

[2000xp8]

Half a bar sounds about right. But with such good parts on your car, you should have an autometer full sweep, and you'd know exactly where it is.

 

[5spd GT]

Half a bar sounds about right. But with such good parts on your car, you should have an autometer full sweep, and you'd know exactly where it is.

With the 180 stat it sat about 1/4 up on the bar. With the 195 Napa it is just below half.

Give me some money and I'll get some autometers

 

[vristang]

My 197F stat puts my temp in the middle of the stock gauge. That's right where you want to be.

At higher temps oil and coolant will degrade much faster. It may be worthwhile to change the fluids, but you are probably just fine, if no gaskets blew.

 

[5spd GT]

I didn't blow any gaskets that I know of. I just know that engine is tough

Now I'm contemplating changing head gaskets soon...just for peace of mind. From the lower it isn't much different when I remove it to put tom's ported lower on it so why not change them out

 

[BooWFO]

Sounds like you had an air bubble in the coolant system. With the design of the coolant system it seems to happen alot. Sounds like you got it taken care of.
BTW I've had cars do that before when I had a hose bust on me in the winter time, luckily I had the heater on and noticed no warm air but an engine that was so I shut her down.

 

[5spd GT]

Well I had never had that problem before. If I ever got an air bubble in the system it would always "pop open" even if it got hot. It would get real hot and open up and cool down nicely. This time it stayed like that for a few roadtrips It had never game me that problem. Like it completely failed...I don't know why I would have an air bubble out of nowhere...but who knows

Best way to burp the system?

 

[HISSIN50]

David, to burp it, park it so the driver side front is higher than the rest of the car (or jack up the driver front) and (ON A COLD MOTOR) remove the cap and let it idle. The cap orifice being the high point in the system should allow air to make its way up there and purge. If your new stat had a bleed hole on it, this will help purge air from the bowels (loosening the ECT can help otherwise).

FWIW, the performance stats have a shroud around the wax pellet to protect it. Otherwise water banging against it can damage it, and air pockets can cause it to get out of calibration (the air pockets really can work it over).

All cars are different, but my stock gauge read ~35* too cool at the halfway point.

Good luck David!

 

[88GT4u2nv]

the problem with my car is that the heater wont work until about after a 25min drive, and even when it does it hardly works. also the heat only last for about 30min. my gauge always reads cold, never reaches a quarter way up on it. ive replaced the t-stat in the past because of heating problems when i purchased the car. maybe a air prob, or t-stat?? dont mean to steal the thread but we were on the subject.

 

[jaymac]

the problem with my car is that the heater wont work until about after a 25min drive, and even when it does it hardly works. also the heat only last for about 30min. my gauge always reads cold, never reaches a quarter way up on it. ive replaced the t-stat in the past because of heating problems when i purchased the car. maybe a air prob, or t-stat?? dont mean to steal the thread but we were on the subject.

your factory gauge is probably bad [inaccurate]; your heater core may be plugged/dirty and need to be backflushed.
Your stat may be stuck open, and not allowing the coolant to reach operating temps quickly...

 

[vristang]

the problem with my car is that the heater wont work until about after a 25min drive, and even when it does it hardly works. also the heat only last for about 30min. my gauge always reads cold, never reaches a quarter way up on it. ive replaced the t-stat in the past because of heating problems when i purchased the car. maybe a air prob, or t-stat?? dont mean to steal the thread but we were on the subject.

What temp stat did you replace the bad one with?
Sounds like you may have a lower stat.
It will make a huge difference.