I've heard different things about the thermostat as is relates to towing. A coworker insists that a heavy duty thermostat will greatly improve towing.

Does anybody know what the current thermostat temp. is on these trucks? Is it beneficial to upgrade it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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'97 F150 Lariat 4x4, 4.6L V8, 3.55 LS, 285/75R16 BFG AT TA KO's, 16x8 Weld Racing Typhoon's, K&N Airfilter, 4 Explorer Pro Comp ES 3000 Shocks, Superwhite Bulbs, Tinted Windows, Colonels Fiberglass Tonneau Cover painted to match, Tow Pkg, 6CD Changer

Mods to come: Billet Grille, Superchip, Outland Sport Bumber Guard

 

I've towed with a 97 F150 with a 4.6L and now, my 99 F250 with the V10. I was surprised that the temp guage never moved into the hot range. I would say that Ford has done an excelent job with the cooling system.

 

Mine never moves when towing either regaurdless of outside temp. The tranny temp gauge does however! Leave the thermostat alone you can't improve it.

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2000 F-250 Super Duty, SuperCab XLT, Oxford white with medium grey cloth captains chairs, 5.4L Triton V8 (260 HP version!), 4R100 4 Speed Automatic Transmission, 4 wheel ABS, Deluxe Aluminum Wheels, Trailer Towing Package, Class IV Hitch, Reece load distribution system, Escort Sensor II Electronic Brake controller, K&N filter, Sure Stop towing skirt, "Westin" black powder coated step bars, "White-White" head lamps, Herculiner bed liner, ISSPRO Tranny Temp Guage, Excursion center console.

 

195F, I believe. I agree with leaving it be.

 

Definatly leave it.
I actualy had my relay for the temp gauge changed, because it has only gone above a certin point a few times - ever! I have the heavy duty cooling package and boy did the guys at ford do a good job!
Don't touch it! - its just a waste of $$$

[This message has been edited by White Expo (edited 05-17-2000).]

 

Thanks guys...that's what I was saying! I towed with it a few times last summer and I too was suprised the temp gauge never really moved.

This guy who insists on upgrading it drives Chevy's and I guess it's one of the first things he changes.

One last question.....how do I tell if I have the tranny cooler? In front of the radiator there are two smaller cooling units....I think I was told one was for the power steering and the other the oil cooler? but I'm not sure. I've climbed underneath it but with the ORP it's hard to see behind the radiator to see where everything is going!

Thanks for all your help.

 

MAK 3, if you look on the engine side of the radiator, near the edge, locate the two lines to the in-the-radiator trans cooler. Then trace these two lines a ways. If both head off across the air gap between radiator and engine (on the way back to the trans), then no auxiliary cooler.
But if one of those lines instead heads to in front of the radiator, then you do have the aux. trans cooler. Somewhere, you can also find the other line from the aux. cooler going to the trans to complete the circuit.

 

They didn't put any kind of radiator style engine oil cooler in these things. Even in the HD cooling package the engine cooling is done another way. It's not a radiator style system, it is an engine cooling jacket located around the oil filter area. I don't believe they even put the engine cooler system on the 4.6L only the 5.4L. If you have the tranny auxiliary cooler it would be the bigger of the two. The smallest being the power steering pump cooler. Remember that the Air conditioner condenser is up there right in front or the radiator and it looks like a radiator as well.

[This message has been edited by cphilip (edited 05-18-2000).]

 

Unless your truck is a freak, the little radiator to the passenger side is the auto tranny cooler. The one on the driver's side is the power steering cooler. If you have the HD or Tow package on the 5.4L engine, the engine oil cooler is a liquid/liquid heat transfer unit that's attached to the oil filter mount.

 

Thanks guys.....so if I'm reading the posts correctly the larger (black, by the way) radiator style cooler in front of the radiator on the passenger side is the auto tranny cooler....and the other smaller one (silver) is the power steering cooler.

Thanks!

 

READ THIS!!!!!! http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/fordtough.html

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97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, WMS Velocity tube, K&N, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust with Echo tube.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill!

 

WOW! Very informative.....not too concerned about the thermostat anymore, or cooling, or towing, or corrosion, or.......

Thanks for the info!

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'97 F150 Lariat 4x4, 4.6L V8, 3.55 LS, Superchip, 285/75R16 BFG AT TA KO's, 16x8 Weld Racing Typhoon's, K&N Gen II FIPK, 4 Explorer Pro Comp ES 3000 Shocks, Superwhite Bulbs, Tinted Windows, Colonels Fiberglass Tonneau Cover painted to match, Tow Pkg, 6CD Changer


http://dopealicious.tripod.com/page_3.htm

 

Kinda neat huh?

 

Towed the Jet Skiis out to Lake Mead this weekend.....HWY 15 from San Bernadino to Vegas is nothing but up and down some pretty steep grades at times through the "High Desert" for 3 hours....the Temp. Gauge barely MOVED!!! I was running 75mph (or a little faster, except when my wife was telling me to "SLOW DOWN!" - just installed my Superchip last week!) with the A/C blowing in 104 degree heat (worlds largest thermometer in Baker, CA) mid-day with a ton of throttle left...I know two 600 lb. jet skiis, 30 gallons of gas, toolbox and trailer aren't considered a "real load" but I'm driving a 4x4 with oversized tires which makes me a little heavier and negatively affects the gearing and the truck handled it GREAT! Absolutely NO problems...thanks everyone for the informative posts, as always!

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'97 F150 Lariat 4x4, 4.6L V8, 3.55 LS, Superchip, 285/75R16 BFG AT TA KO's, 16x8 Weld Racing Typhoon's, K&N Gen II FIPK, 4 Explorer Pro Comp ES 3000 Shocks, Superwhite Bulbs, Tinted Windows, Colonels Fiberglass Tonneau Cover painted to match, Tow Pkg, 6CD Changer

http://dopealicious.tripod.com/page_3.htm



[This message has been edited by MAK 3 (edited 05-29-2000).]