Thermostat Problem?

[lilred96]

I was going to the store and before i left to go inside the store i heard a wierd bubling sound so i went inside cameback out i looked under the truck and i was leaking alot of coolant. i opened the hood and saw the overflow resivior ballooning and a 2 ft spary of coolant comming out of the pin hole on the lid i threw a rag on it and it was boiling. i waited till it stopped i opened the lid it was filled to the brim the longer i waited the cooler it got and the rad sucked the coolant back in-was the thermostat stuck closed? -the temp gauge wasnt on hot yet 3/4 or middle on the gauge. after it cooled i took the short way home prepaired to stop if it was getting to hot it made it fine. and i can still drive around with ac on-no overheating i gues it unstuck itself? Now the temp gauge fluctuates more than usual. Im sure its the thermostat going out right? truck runs great my head gaskets are fine. allways the correct amount of coolant has anyone else experienced this? how much is the motorcraft one are they easy to install?

 

[martin]

Happens to mine sometimes. Pressure tested everything, changed thermostat and pressure cap. Nothing changed, still happens on occasion. If you find something I've not thought of please post what you found.

 

[r1hatman]

Mine was doing that so I changed the rad, thermo and water pump. i put a 160 thermo in mine and it runs a lot cooler now. Thermo is easy to swap. Then burp the crap out of if, usually that is what causes overheating or flare ups.

 

[lilred96]

its a good thing we guys drive fords because they tend to fix themselves dont they hah, thinks for the tips, I think it happens cause its 100 d outside and a flare up happens alot of air in the engine gets to steam and screws up the potency of the spring on the thermostat and the spring turns to normal once it cools down that has to be it and the more it happens the more it wears down the thermostat its probably time to get a new one-i like how this occurs the week i just got a new job

 

[Big Jim M]

All of the above

its a good thing we guys drive fords because they tend to fix themselves dont they hah, thinks for the tips, I think it happens cause its 100 d outside and a flare up happens alot of air in the engine gets to steam and screws up the potency of the spring on the thermostat and the spring turns to normal once it cools down that has to be it and the more it happens the more it wears down the thermostat its probably time to get a new one-i like how this occurs the week i just got a new job

Is simply silly!
If you have experienced what you have posted you have a PROBLEM! If not found and repaired you will soon be afoot and spending $$$ on repairs.
AIR don't boil and make steam... WATER boils and makes that steam. Using a WORKING radiator cap of 16 pounds the water in the system won't turn to steam until it reaches 235*. So your system reached that temperature when you parked...WHY you should ask!
Well if the gauge didn't tell you your engine was too hot then that temp sender was prolly in an air pocket... Why an air pocket? Prolly because you have a small external leak that you havn't bothered to look for and find. Small external leaks have caused most of the cracked heads and burnt head gaskets in our little engines.
So your job is to take the radiator cap off when it is cold and make sure the system is completely full. Turn the heater to full hot and start the engine run it till it reaches temperature with the radiator cap off.. if it needs coolant add it while running. When it is full and up to temp put the cap back on and drive her 10 miles. Coming home look and watch closely to find the leak.. Most times one must crawl his ass under the vehicle to find where that one drop of coolant is..
Big JIm

 

[lilred96]

i have a leak the timing chain cover gasket but thats stopped leaking since i put you know bars in it cause i dont have any money its sealed it up pretty good its been a while since it has leaked again-i guess ill have to check it again thanks big jim

 

[Big Jim M]

If you don't reapir that leak, it'll only be a short time before you FOR SURE don't have any money! You are risking your whole engine by not fixing that gasket.
Big JIm

 

[lilred96]

thanks jim k my first paycheck is going to that gasket!