Running Hot

[Brandon W]

Hello all.



I read these forums fairly often justto learn about my 2001 4x4 sport trac, and you always ahve some answers.



Beginning yesterday my temp. gauge needle began hovering around halfway between midway and H (like 1/4 from max). Truck is acting kind of funny, with slight hesitation. When I start the truck up, it's a louder initial "rev" than usual, and after driving when I put it in park, the rpm's rise for a moment again before settling. Coolant is full at cold, just kind of dirty.



From what I am seeing in posts, it's probably the thermostat, which has never been replaced (now at 146k miles). Everyone says it is easy, and I am pretty good at figuring this stuff out.



But, if anyone could explain/has accessible some basic instructions for replacing the thermostat, it'd be MUCH appreciated.



If you have any other advice, I am all ears.



FYI, I've always had the oil changed every 5k miles. now using the high milage stuff. at 100k, had serpentine belt replaced, ball joints replaced, and all fluid systems serviced (flushed purged etc.).



Thanks. Sorry for the lost post.



Regards,



Brandon

 

[Brandon W]

Sorry! meant to post this as technical, not general. Will re-post.

 

[Fudged Undies]

Hovering around the mid point on the temp gausge isn't necessarily a problem. A couple of questions come to mind.... Is the a/c on and at what setting? Are you in moderate to heavy stop and go traffic while the a/c is running? Has the coolant ever been changed?



You've got an '01.

*Some had thermostat problems. I would just go ahead and swap the t-stat as a pre-emptive measure.

*You should consider changing the coolant if you have driven more than 30-40 k miles on the current change.

*Check your radiator cap, it may not be holding pressure very well which will cause temps to rise.

*Something that could easily be overlooked would be the fan, but since you're not overheating, this is not likely the problem.

* And mainly, it's summertime. Don't know how hot it gets in your neck of the woods but road temps will play a part in cooling fluctuations this will be added to by running the a/c.

 

[Bill Ellis]

By all means check, or just go buy a new radiator cap. Had to do that on my son's Escort. It was slowly loosing coolant [not a leak] and started running hot.

 

[Yardsale]

I have a '01 4WD (not that it matters) and I'm 95% sure it's the thermostat.



Let's see ...



Idles high

Shifts "odd" (crazy down shift coming to stops, then a bit if a surge (from the high idle))

Doesn't brake as well at low speed (also from the high idle)



Ford raises the idle to protect the engine from heat damage.