thermostat?

[shorook90]

sorry about the repetitive question but I searched and found two different answers. So I just wanted to clarify a problem. My car is running extremely cold. It does not go above the L except when performance driving(even then it barely goes to the L). In one post I heard this is normal for a MTX in another I heard it was a stuck open thermostat or tsu. Any info will help. thanks guys.

 

[SHOZ123]

What temp is the L? If indeed it is running at a low temp it is the thermostat that is the problem. But you really don't know how hot the L is unless you use a thermometer that has numbers on it.

It is not normal for the car to run cool. My '93 runs at the M consistently even when below 0F. I have a 2 year old Ford 192F T-stat and a 2 year old temp sender. According to the infrared thermometer I have the area to the radiator side of the t-stat runs at 190F +- 3F.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Could be normal. Next time the car is warmed up, shut the climate control system completely off while driving in 'city' conditions -- you should see regular rises and falls of the gauge as the fans kick on and off. If the gauge doesn't move much or at all, you might need a new t-stat.

 

[rendyx]

I just had the same problem. It would barely heat up, and sometimes not at all (according to the gauge, that is). Replacing the t-stat and sending unit solved this right away. It now always warms up in under 10 minutes, and then climbs to about the M or so, even with climate control on. The engine produces heat, and should naturally get warm after a while, climate control on or off. The temp gauge should reflect this unless there is a problem.

 

[SHO_Driver]

Had that problem too. New T-Stat brought it back up to M.

 

[sdpatt]

The gauge on my MTX with a 180 degree Motorcraft thermostat points just below the "L" when the thermostat starts to open. That is where the gauge on my car reads for 180 degrees as confirmed by a pyrometer. My gauge rarely gets above the "A-L." The only way to know for sure if the thermostat is opening at the correct temperature is to measure the temp of the thermostat housing with a pyrometer or other device. As long as the temperature gets into the "NORMAL" range within about 3-5 minutes (depending on temperature - less when warm outside and maybe even longer than that when bone chilling cold - a lot of that going on about now)

 

[ThumPa]

I have a problem with mine too. Yours doesn't sound that bad though. Mine warms up fine while sitting still @ idle it warms up to about the A-L and the heat is fine. When I drive, after a little while I'll look and my needle is on the blue line but the heat is still kicking. back to yours, you should find out what temp the L actualy is and find out what the normal operating temp is. I think you are alot better off than me .

 

[sdpatt]

yemarp, your thermostat is not fully closing. With the cold temperatures and the small amount of flow passing the thermostat, any heat sink (air through the radiator) will prevent the temperature from achieving the NORMAL operating range. That is the most common mode of failure for the thermostats in the SHO. Thankfully.

 

['92SHO]

I just did my thermostat too, for the same situation. $6 and it was fixed. Pretty easy too.

 

[shojuan]

'92SHO:
I just did my thermostat too, for the same situation. $6 and it was fixed. Pretty easy too.

I'm not suggesting you run out and replace your thermostat but something to keep in mind (if you run into mysterious heat related problems on a track in the heat of summer for instance) is that it's been confirmed that the stock Motorcraft thermostat (now only available in the 192F version) flows more coolant than aftermarket thermostats, including 180F units. I believe Ransom Holbrook was the first to suggest this and it's been confirmed by Nick Chrimes recently.

 

[projectSHO89]

Both Ransom and Nick, as I understand it, run some pretty extreme mods on their engines.

Just keeping their situations in perspective.

Steve

 

[ThumPa]

Yeah, I kind of figured that sdpatt . it was confirmed when I went to a local dealer. the guy wasn't a total tool but he said that Ford was having the same trouble with other vehicles. So he has seen the same symptoms. Well I picked up a new thermostat while I was there. Thanks

 

[shojuan]

projectSHO89:
Both Ransom and Nick, as I understand it, run some pretty extreme mods on their engines.

Just keeping their situations in perspective.

Steve

I'll have to dig around in the baysho archives but I think Nick ran into a problem with a customer's regular street SHO and an aftermarket thermostat.

But you raise a good point. Basically, there's not a problem until there's a problem.