Heater valve replacement 1995

[Technics]

Hello TRS,

My 1995 2.3 has a bad leak at the heater control valve. Simple job, nothing I haven't done before. My trouble is with buying a replacement part.

I've heard horror stories of aftermarket brands such as Four Seasons and GPD. So obviously I'd like to opt for the Motorcraft part. Here's the question.

The listings I find on websites for the Motorcraft part state it works for the 2.3, but they specify "With engine oil cooler." The part number is F87H18495AA/F87Z18495AA.

Is this the right Motorcraft part for my Ranger?

Thank you!

 

[RonD]

F87Z-18495-AA is correct, not sure why they would include "with oil cooler" in description

Same valve was used from 1995 to 2012
It was redesigned in 1998, hence the F8(1998) at the start, 7Z mean Ranger

Make sure to swap heater hose flow direction, you do this when changing coolant or anytime you have to drain coolant.
This helps keep heater core clean of any larger debris that has flowed in, reversing the hoses hopefully makes it flow back out, lol

 

[Technics]

Excellent RonD, thank you. Good idea to swap the hoses around. I did drain and refill the coolant a few times after a freezing issue lately. Stuff that came out was pretty much rusty water.

I assume you're saying the two hoses that go into the valve next to each other, to reinstall them on the new one in the opposite locations?

 

[RonD]

Yes, or at the firewall, but not both, lol.

Not a bad idea to Back Flush heater core when hoses are off
Point one hose down at the ground, put garden hose on the other, then reverse it to clean out what you can

 

[Technics]

Thank you very much!