Motorcraft thermostat works like magic

[icemilkcoffee]

When I first got the truck it would never even move past the C on the temp gauge. I replaced it with a new aftermarket thermostat and saw almost no improvement at all. Then I switched to a Motorcraft thermostat from the dealer (it's actually made for a newer model Ranger, and retrofitted to all earlier Rangers). The rubber seal has a groove in it, and there is a steel wire inside the groove. It works wonders. The truck instantly warms up. No more cardboard in front of the radiator!
Oh yeah- another thing I learned- use the factory gasket. The factory gasket's bolt holes are slightly too small to pass the bolts through. You have to screw the bolts in there such that the gasket captures the bolts. That way you don't have to be fumbling with 2 loose bolts while you're trying to line the t-stat housing up and keep the t-stat from falling off at the same time. That gasket probably saved a good 15 minutes of frustration.

 

[hartwrenches]

I have a 94 2.3 the wife says it doesn't warm up all the way. I have cardboard in front and electric fan in back. The t-stat is a stant.

It is -35 outside, and I haven't drove the truck myself to see, but a oem t-stat might help.

 

[maverick1970]

You can clearly see a difference in the t-stat made by Motorcraft in comparison to the one I bought at Autozone brand name Fail-Safe made by MotoRad. I've attached some pics. The order of the pics are (1.) old factory t-stat, new Motorcraft t-stat and Fail-Safe t-stat (2) bottom view of the same three (3) old factory t-stat (4) new Motorcraft t-stat (5) Autozone Fail-Safe t-stat. Notice how the Motorcraft has the metal bracket bushing thingies at the bottom close to the rubber gasket and the one from Autozone doesn't.

 

[Resurrection Ranger]

I did my T-stat like 10 years ago and like said, the temp gauge doesn't move much although it does produce hear rather quickly. One day I will throw dome actual gauges on to get a numbered reading. I'd love to replace it but the gooseneck looks pretty frail at this day in age and I don't want to bust it

 

[locovaca]

I run a FailSafe t-stat and an aftermarket gasket, haven't had any problems.