203 thermostat vs stock

[jake-96-7.3]

what is the ups and downs i live in southeastern pa with mild winters and not reall hot summers ive noticed lately the temp gauge struggles to reach the n mark with 122k im figuring its still th oem stat and am just going to change it which one would be the better choice

[STROKED_NY_023]

Use this housing...

http://www.dieselsite.com/oemthermos...ordpsd73l.aspx

With this stat...

http://www.dieselsite.com/dieselsite203thermostat.aspx

Your truck will love you for it... Powerstrokes like it hot...

[jesilvas]

First, don't go off the factory gauge. Use something real if you wanna know actual temps.
BUT you probably have a bad thermostat.
I like my 203*F one. I get up to 180*F - 185*F unloaded, and maybe up to 195*F unloaded in the summer in TX.
Maybe my old one was bad, but with the 203*F, it idled quieter, a tad, once at full operating temp. Does it help with mileage? Eh, maybe, but probably not enough to notice. But I like it.

[jake-96-7.3]

thanks guys stat and housing are on the way one more thing how many gallons of coolant is it going to take to refill this thing and where is the best spot to let the air out of the engine when refilling ive always just left a heater hose off when i do other cars and that seems to always work to get all the air out

[jesilvas]

You need to flush a certain way.
You should use a T in a heater line, back flush a while.
Then drain out by either just dumping the water in the rad. or that and plugs in the block. I did just the rad.
Then refill with tap water, run, and dump. Do that until the water coming out seems clear.
Then fill with distilled water, run dump. Do that a few times to get as much tap water and minerals out.
Then you refill with 4 gallons of CONCENTRATE antifreeze made for diesels. You shouldn't use a CAT EC-1 rated coolant due to motor year, but a proper SCA diesel coolant. Then refill up to the mark with distilled water, run the motor and just keep topping off.
Total capacity is 8 gallons.

[PSD POWER007]

I am curious about how the 203 degree thermostat affected oil temps.

[tartansailor]

PSD,
I think that this will answer all of the questions raised in this thread:

Gooch's Radiator/Engine Backflush Procedure and Coolant Information - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Dick

[ol_Blue97]

Originally Posted by jake-96-7.3

what is the ups and downs i live in southeastern pa with mild winters and not reall hot summers ive noticed lately the temp gauge struggles to reach the n mark with 122k im figuring its still th oem stat and am just going to change it which one would be the better choice

Where at in SE PA.... i live in North East MD, the town which is located on the north east corner of MD. Haha