The heatercore rarely if ever causes overheating, and a matter of fact if you turn your heat on high usually it will drop your temp down just a little bit. the only thing i'd consider is buying a new tstat since you overheated it. Possible that it got stuck closed, i had the same issue with my wife mountianeer not too long ago and it was a stuck Tstat

 

i don't think its possible to damage a t-stat by normal handling. the sensor is all sealed up. if you want more proof, do a test on the stove top with a cooking/meat thermometer and carefully control the heat. if its a 195 it should crack open around 185 and be FULLY open at 195-200.

you should do a warranty exchange at the parts store. tell em the truth - that the t-stats not opening all the way and causing overheating...

what brand/model did you get? if you don't have a stant super-stat, upgrade to that one. its got a lot more material in it and it just feels better. costs a little more, maybe $12-15 instead of the $6 for the cheapo one.

 

Gonna do the stove top test tomorrow ( it is snowing in dallas and I work with tow trucks.........you would think it was the second coming by the way people are acting, so I may not get home tonight)

I bought a fail-safe 180* T-stat from autozone. Will they do a warranty if I don't have a receipt? I have a ton of parts with warranty so I will give them my number and see what happens. I don't think they sell the superstat @ autozone so if no warranty I will go to O'reilys I think they sell them.

Any harm in going to a 160* thermostat just thinking how hot it gets here in the summer?

 

a 160 will throw a CEL P1281 engine too cold too long. plus, it'll run rich and get less mpg. get either a 180 or 195. i run a 180 without any problems and have lesser temp spikes when towing or crawling in hot weather.

there's no registered warranty w/t-stats like there is with brakes, starter, battery, etc. just ask nice for an exchange. its smoother with a receipt if you can find it. try to exchange it for something else - maybe some oil or something.

you're right - i checked autozone web site and they don't have the stant's. only the $5 and $8 duralast (do-you-think-it'll-last).

 

:i con_shrug: Well I am gonna roll and see what happens. Like I said when I had the thermostat out it was running around 130 degrees. I went and got another Failsafe 180* T-stat put her in and drove around. Engine stayed about 208-210. After driving for 20 min I pulled up to a red light and went to 215 but came back down as soon as I started rolling. Remember it used to get up to 230 in this same situation so I made progress According to the factory gauge 210 is right where is should be but just seems high with a 180* T-stat. I have a lot of performance upgrades so I suspect it should run a little warmer.

I also got to thinking the factory gauge is in the side where it should be I drilled and tapped the manifold right behind the T-stat housing (where there used to be a second port on older models) Maybe because it is right by the T-stat the coolant is warmer there because the factory gauge sits between the first mark and 210. Gonna watch it we will see.

 

why did you change the sensor location?

 

I didn't change the sensor location. I have 2 sensors the factory one and a digital aftermarket one. Factory gauges are just too vague for me, I have alot invested in this motor and truck and want to monitor it closely.