kaerts

Hello Everyone,

I have a 1989 Mustang GT that is currently having an issue with the temperature. I recently installed a 180 thermostat and the car is still running a little hot, so I took it in to have it checked. The shop I took it to said that a pressure test revealed that the thermostat gasket was leaking, so they went and replaced this gasket. I have the car back now, and unfortunately the temperature fluctuates a bit, but seems to settle right at stock 195!

I asked twice if they replaced the stat with a stock 195 unit, they said no, they reused the 180. So, I'm at a loss, I've run 160 and 180 thermostats in the past and none of them fluctuated in temperature like whats happening now. I was wondering if this may be the result of a faulty water(coolant) temperature sender or the result of a crappy new radiator or perhaps the thermostat is bad, because I dropped it on concrete before the install. I'm racking my brain at this point, and no clues are evident.

The car ran perfect a month ago before the radiator blew up. The temperature issues really bother me and any and all advice/help would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

kaerts

84conversion50

what do you mean by fluctuate. and 195 is no where near hot. 220 is the limit to your ok point. anything past id worry. you will usually get about 10 degrees over ur therm.

mjr46

where in Md are you?? when does the temp fluctuate? stop and go or on the highway??

Grundy

i agree, 195 is not hot. FYI your 180 stat STARTS to open at 180, and is fully open aprox 20degrees after that.

kaerts

I'm located in Timonium, MD. BTW, the car is pretty resilient due to the fact that I've owned since 93' and it's been beaten daily. Anyway, true-true, a 195 is not hot I agree, but I've never really seen the temp stay at this position w/ a 180 thermostat + yesterday it was fluctuating near the 210 mark.

I should have paid more attention to the high pitched screeching from my engine bay, and I noticed it several days ago but didn't pay it any mind. I think the bearing on the water pump is blown; I think this solves the problem- what do you guys think???

Pony 5.0

You might have an air pocket. That will cause fluctuations.

kaerts

Good point- I forgot, how do you get rid of an air pocket in the system?

Also, the thermostat I installed has a blurp value; don't they normally prevent the air pocket though?