I need to replace my engine thermostat?

If you follow the radiator hose to the engine, you would find the thermostat housing attached to hose. The thermostat is under the housing. Here is a guide to help walk you through the steps with instructions in the diagrams below to show you how on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Check out the diagrams (Below). I have included both 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

My truck goes from running at normal temperature to overheating instantaneously. No fluid leaks, I am 99% certain it is the thermostat. I cannot seem to locate it however. Every truck I have had in the past you would locate it by following the top radiator hose back. On this truck, if you follow the top hose back it connects to a steel pipe and goes back behind the engine. It almost appears to come off the lower hose. Any body have any input? I cannot find any videos on YouTube addressing this. Thank you in advance for help.

All I could dig up is the description of how to remove the thermostat housing, which will provide access to the thermostat. Before you take it off, note how it is positioned. Because if you install it backwards, you will still be overheating.

Awesome, that was exactly what I needed. Thank you. Now it acts like it does not want to turn over. It sat for a day and a half due to my work schedule. So I changed the thermostat, and now it will not start. It was not allowed to run hot, for more than a minute when it was discovered, and I checked the oil and it looks fine. Thoughts?

If you disconnected any electrical stuff, battery cables, etc., make sure that they are completely and correctly tightened. It could be that your battery drained, so try jumping it. If that does not do it, then take all of the spark plugs out and try cranking it again. Be careful to note which plug wires go to which cylinders though, otherwise we will have to dig up the firing order and you will have to follow it to get them back in the right cylinders.

Replacing the thermostat in my six cylinder. Which goes in first, the thermostat or the gasket? Or does it matter?

Thanks

if there is a groove in thermostat housing thermostat goes in then gasket if the groove is on engine side thermostat then gasket. See link for generalized version:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

how to change (location) thermostat

the thermostat is inside the thermostat housing located at the end of the upper radiator hose.
follow the upper hose; where it hooks up to the engine is your thermostat housing.

replacement:
-put car on ramps/jack stands
-drain radiator
-disconnect upper hose from thermostat housing
-remove thermostat housing
-remove thermostat
-scrap the old gasket off the engine and the thermostat housing
-put new gasket and thermostat (spring side pointing toward the engine)
-rebolt the thermostat housing
-hook the upper hose back up
-refill your radiator and overflow tank with coolant
-with radiator cap off, turn on car and let it run
-check for leaks
-squeeze upper hose a little bit to get the air out.
-when coolant starts pouring out of the radiator, put cap back on.
-take the car for a short drive, and make sure it doesn't overheat (sometime air gets trapped in the system preventing the thermostat from operating properly).
-turn car off and let it cool down
-while it cools down check for leaks again.
-check coolant level inside radiator (make sure the engine is cool before you remove the radiator cap!!) and overflow tank; add coolant if necessary.

I suggest you buy a manual (haynes/chilton); this is a very helpful tool for diy-er, and it's cheap. It will also give you the torque for the thermostat housing.

I was replacing the engine coolant sensor and while trying to replace that evil little spring clip, it sprung off and like shooting a basketball nothing but net right down the thermostat housing - ugh. could anyone provide my option for retrieving it? (I had to purchase two new ones because the original sprung off as well into the grass abyss) I certainly do not think I want to start the engine with it in there? so any help would be appreciated.

Hello,

A metal coat hanger with a small magnet Gorilla taped on the end of it.
A telescoping magnet. A piece of twine with a small magnet tied to the end of it.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

Thank you i will try. i had tried to use a telescoping magnet but could not get it around the bends.

Hello again,

I think the coat hanger is going to work the best. Let us know, please.

Thank you,
Alex
2CarPros

Heater problem
2002 Ford Ranger 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual

Where is the thermostat located and how can I replace it?

THERMOSTAT - WATER, 3.0L Removal Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 3.0L & 4.0L. Remove the upper radiator hose (8260) from the water outlet connection. Remove the bolts, the water outlet connection and the water thermostat (8575). CAUTION:Use care when scraping thermostat housing-to-gasket mating surfaces. Gouges in aluminum could form leak paths. Discard the gasket and clean the sealing surfaces. Installation NOTE:Make sure the sealing surfaces are totally free of gasket material. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Start the engine and check for coolant leaks. THERMOSTAT - WATER, 4.0L Removal & Installation Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to the COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 3.0L & 4.0L. Remove the air cleaner outlet tube. Remove the generator wiring harness bracket nut and position the wiring harness aside. Disconnect the upper radiator hose. Remove the bolts, the water outlet adapter and the thermostat. Inspect the O-ring seal. Install a new O-ring seal if necessary. To install, reverse the removal procedure. THERMOSTAT HOUSING - 2.3L Removal & Installation NOTE:The thermostat and thermostat housing are serviced as an assembly. Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 2.3L. Disconnect the hose and the electrical connector. Disconnect the radiator lower hose. Remove the bolts and the thermostat housing. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Engine Cooling problem 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 180K miles

Where exactly is the thermostat located and how do you change it out?

Hello,

The thermostat is located at the engine up of the top radiator hose inside the thermostat housing. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Here are thermostat locations for both the four and six cylinder engines.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

I wanted to ask that if the overflow reservoir on the radiator cracked, would the cause the thermostat to break? Is there a way of telling if the thermostat is broken?

Chances are a cracked resevoir will not cause the thermostat to go bad.

to test it take it out and drop it in a pan of boiling water or use a heated paint stripper or hair dryer and heat it up. if it opens up its good, if not its bad.

I need to replace the thermostat. How do I do that?

OK first follow the upper radiator hose back to the engine this will lead you to the thermostat housing. Now get a bucket and drain some anti freeze from the radiator enough to lower the coolant so not so much will spill out of the housing. Now remove the upper radiator hose from the thermostat housing and then remove the two bolts that hold the thermostat housing to the intake manifold and remove the housing then replace thermostat the put back together in reverse order and fill back up with anti freeze.

This guide will walk you through with diagrams below to show you on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.