Thermostat Question

[LookAtThatSHO]

Smoke from under the hood -> Replaced radiator & hoses -> More smoke from under the hood -> Replaced water pump -> Low coolant light still on -> Leaking fluid from thermostat area... ALL IN ONE MONTH -> How's my SHO doing?

So, it's evident that there's some coolant leakage coming from the thermostat housing, and I am wondering if there is a gasket used with these thermostats? While I'm in there, anyone have any recommendations as to which thermostat / gasket to buy?

 

[SHOtimer]

I would inspect the area and make sure it is the thermostat that is leaking. The tube that runs the length of the valley (which connects to the back of the water pump housing and the back of the thermostat housing) has two O-rings on the end of it that can harden and cause a leak.

But, in regards to your specific question, yes the thermostat has a rubber O-ring around it. The best thermostat is the Motorcraft one - which comes with a gasket. You can get it from http://www.fordpartsnetwork.com/sho.htm, or www.rockauto.com for around $20.

Doug

 

[SASHO91]

easy way to do it...

start engine, get it to operating temp (aka, let the Tstat open)
then rev the motor and look down at the tstat area, and bellhousing....

your leak should become very clear, very fast....

My guess is one of the rubber lines... easily replacement with some 5/8'' heater hose...

 

[JATRAMMELL]

When I replaced my thermostat recently, I managed to get the gasket in incorrectly, not once, but twice. It wasn't obvious since the power steering pump cooler is where the dripping was coming from. It took a while to figure out that the improperly installed gasket was the culprit.

The Motorcraft thermostat comes with the rubber gasket. Some other thermostats appear cheaper but you have to order the gasket separately.

Motorcraft seems to be the best way to go.

 

[firstgen89sho]

I have had no good luck with the Motorcraft rubber gaskets on the t-stats, I have installed 3 t-stats properly, and all 3 have leaked.... the third one is being fixed tomorrow.....

 

[Jaz2099]

I have had no good luck with the Motorcraft rubber gaskets on the t-stats, I have installed 3 t-stats properly, and all 3 have leaked.... the third one is being fixed tomorrow.....

I wouldn't say they were installed "properly" then? FWIW, when I changed my thermostat I used the old gasket(bought one without new gasket) and just threw on some thermostat gasket maker stuff just to be sure.

 

[SHOtimer]

I have had no good luck with the Motorcraft rubber gaskets on the t-stats, I have installed 3 t-stats properly, and all 3 have leaked.... the third one is being fixed tomorrow.....

I doubt it was the gasket. Maybe their is an issue with the housing..not being completely cleaned or being pitted...

Doug

 

[shoebilly]

I would look at the area of the engine oil cooler. It can & will directly spray coolant on the ex. manifold. Any coolant hose at anytime can blow if it has some age. It maybe a pinhole.(best senareo) It could be a (worst senareo)head gasket.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

Thanks for everyones' replies. I really don't think (or atleast I hope) that the head gasket's leaking. It looks to me (I have yet to further investigate) that the leak is coming from the end of the upper radiator hose, the point at which it meets with the engine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the thermostat is located directly behind where the upper radiator hose meets with the engine. Hence why I believe there to be some kind of problem associated with the thermostat housing / gasket. The leak doesn't seem to be too bad at the moment. It's all just kind of funny to me now though, since I just spent around $700 to have the radiator changed, the water pump changed, and the lower radiator hose changed. You'd think the guys at the shop would have checked the whole system out, maybe perform a pressure test or something. But then I know someone would say, maybe it was fine then, which it probably was, and this is just my luck. All I know is, that when this problem is fixed, I won't have to worry about the whole damn coolant system for a while!