Changing Thermostat

[scheidt27]

My thermostat is sticking and the truck just doesnt want to stay warm, and it takes forever to get it up to temp. Im assuming its a thermostat sticking. My question is, do I need to drain any coolant out to change the thermostat? It would seem as if I can just take off the hose and put a new housing and thermostat in there without having to drain at all. Let me know. Thanks

[fordfan30]

Your going to make a mess weather you drain some coolant or not. The size of the mess could be helped by draining some but it will not be eliminated. After you let some out if you wait a few minutes the coolant on top of the t-stat can get by the jiggle valve ( i assume these are like gas engines) and reduce the size of the coolant puddle that you make. Even if I am wrong, its a bump for someone who can tell us both.

[bigcountrysg]

I would drain and flush then replace the t-stat.

[NCHornet]

I agree, good time to do a flush and fill with a True ELC coolant, but if you're coolant is good, take a clean 5 gal bucket and drain the degas bottle and rad via the pet**** on the bot drivers side of rad. Uou shouldn't loose much this way, if any!! You do know you need to get the thermostat from Ford? I don't know of anyone who makes a replacement thermostat for our trucks, 195 is what you want. I would also get a new housing as well, the stock housing is cheap metal and it will usually not seal the second time. Make sure you get the new O ring with it. About $20 for the housing from Ford.
PM me with any ?

NCH

[indyF-350psd]

do yourself a favor and order the billet thermostat housing from dieselsite as you can reuse it as many times as you want. it doesnt bend when you tighten the bolts....

[scheidt27]

The coolant is new as of last year so that should still be good. The thermostat that is sticking is the 203* from Dieselsite so Im gonna stick with the stock one from ford this time. I just took it to a radiator shop last year for the flush and thermostat. I dont have a very big garage and its not heated so working on this big truck in it proves to be challenging. Thanks for the help fellas. Much appreciated.

[19558077]

THERE IS A SQUARE 3/8 PIPE PLUG ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOUSING YOU CAN DRAIN FIRST, YOU MAY LOOSE ABOUT A GALLON.PUT JUST A VERY, VERY SMALL BEAD OF GREY PERMATEX ON THE HOUSING, DIESEL SITE SELLS A 230DEG THERMOSTAT TO REPLACE THE STOCK 198DEG. JUST CHANGED MINE 3 MONTHS AGO WITH NO PROBLEMS.