Truck seems to not quite get to operating temp. Found a coolant leak, or at least one coolant leak. Was a bad gasket in the thermostat housing. The housing was in bad shape so i got a new housing and thermostat. No leak so far. I've been noticing this for a while that my truck takes forever to get to normal operating temp, if it gets there at all. It stays just 1/4 below the mid point if the temp gauge. I was hoping changing the thermostat would solve that, but still seems to be happening. I thought it may be stuck open, but that wasn't the case. Any usual suspects In this type of situation? I'm still a bit confused about the smaller coolant cable that runs from the top left side of the throttle body to the top of the radiator near the cap. Just below the reservoir tube. It gets hot very fast, and the pressure is quite high. Is this normal? The pressure is so high that if you start the car with the radiator cap off, the coolant coming out of the hose hits the side wall just below the radiator cap and spews coolant everywhere. Is it possible that this is related to the slow warming?

 

I doubt that there is an issue with the warm up of your engine. I would be more suspicious of a gauge or sender problem. From what you describe, the gauge doesn't show anything abnormal and is within the normal range. I would use one of those infrared thermometers and take a measurement to verify. If the upper hose is uncomfortably warm to hold onto, I would say the engine is operating at the correct temperature regardless of what the gauge shows.

The cooling line you describe is to prevent icing of the throttle body during the winter months.

 

My 92 f150 never changed from the N. The previous own used water and leak stop as coolant so when I flushed the system, it just gushed coolant. so I replaced the whole cooling system along with a freeze plug and sensor/sender and added the correct coolant. My gauge at that point only went 1/4 of the way up except occasionally on a hot day sitting in traffic it would move up a hair. I just recently put AC in the truck and now it’s reaching that 1/2 way point in the temperature gauge when sitting in traffic on a 100+ degree day. Pretty sure all this is normal, and I’ve been told this before; if it’s overheating; you’d know.

 

The thermostat you used was a 195 right?

 

Thanks!! Yeah i think all is well. The more im reading about these trucks, it seems like this is normal and the temp gauge s to stick around the "n" in normal. Thats exactly where mine is. Appreciate the clarification about the coolant hose around the throttle body. I had read that its both to prevent icing and keep the engine at a uniform temp. Really just wasnt sure if the coolant pressure in the line should be as hot or such high pressure, but sounds like this is all normal. Starting to get a better idea of what is baseline behavior of my truck, but its taken some time. I'll get an infrared thermometer too. Curious to see various readings around the engine

 

Yep! My heart skipped a beat when I read this. I was sure I got a 195, but checked my box to confirm. Thanks for the idea to double check this.

 

This is exactly where my temp gauge is at. Yeah think all is well, just not used to seeing the gauge in the center like I have with previous vehicles. Appreciate the insights. I'll be putting ac in my truck soon ss well, it's been about 105 around here for weeks straight.

 

With 105 degree heat, your engine will reach normal operating temperature with no thermostat in place. It will just take longer to reach that point.

 

That's pretty pretty wild. I'll keep an eye on it but things do seem to be heating up quicker and settling at the "O" in "normal". My leak is gone too! Seams like it was just the thermostat housing. Thanks so much for all the help and advice.

 

You will love AC
Good luck
You changing out the HVAC case and using Ford parts or going aftermarket ARA stuff?