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Replacing the thermostat on my V10

23K views 10 replies 3 participants last post by  BigGreenV10 
#1 ·
Among other things.

Now that my truck isn't going to mainly be used in the winter I wanted to get it tuned up and ready for hot weather hauling duty (pulling my new to me 5th wheel). As I posted awhile back, my thermostat was stuck open not allowing the truck to warm up - at first I thought it was the Coolant Temp Sensor because the needle would just sit and never move, but finally while driving with my plow in the raised position, I noticed that the needle moved and almost got to normal operating temps. My heat was also very weak in the truck.

So I purchased a new thermostat- stock 190 degree, some coolant, some new spark plugs, tranny fluid, tranny filter, trans temp guage, a new belt and some hoses.

I've read online about guys who have done this but could never find pictures of where the thermostate was housed. I found it and took pictures, also included in the thermostat is a small metal ring with a rubber gasket on the inside of it which I had no idea where that was supposed to go- well I found that and took a picture.

So Here is how it went-

- Place 5 gallon bucket under the passenger side of the radiator by the lower radiator hose.
- Loose Lower radiator hose where it connects to the radiator.
Caution - When you remove the hose a LOT of antifreeze will come out FAST. Be ready for it and direct it all towards the bucket
- Drain until it basically stops by itself and re-attach the hose to the radiator.
- Remove the upper radiator hose from the radiator- this will have coolant as well, I cut the top of a Milk Jug and stuck the hose on it to collect the coolant.
- Remove the smaller 5/8" Hose that attaches to the Thermostat Housing (I had to cut mine)
- Remove the Upper Radiator hose from the Thermostat Housing ( I Had to cut mine)
- removed the intake tube (probably not necessary, but I did it to check the air filter anyway)
- Remove the bracket that connects the Altenator to the A/C Compressor (has 4 bolts, I believe they are 14mm and 12mm-that could be off I can't remember right now).
- Remove both bolts holding the Altenator in place, lube up the mounting spots with some WD40 to help it come loose.
- Use a star sock/torx socket to relieve the belt tension on the tensioner and take the belt off the altenator. ( I was replacing my belt so I removed it completely)
- Remove the bolts holding the Thermostat Housing in place- Note - You will need to push the AC Hoses aside very slightly, be careful not to kink these.
- Using a hammer or whatever, tap the housing lightly until it comes loose.
- Pull housing out - clean the gasket material off of housing
- Remove old Thermostat - clean gasket material off of engine surface, place rag inside so it doesn't get into the engine water jackets.
- Remove metal ring with rubber gasket from inside the thermostat area inside the engine - I had to tap it with a flat head screwdriver and hammer until it dropped. Then I had to reach in and pull it out.
- Replace metal ring with rubber gasket with new one.
- Replace Thermostat
- Replace Thermostat housing Gasket
- Replace Thermostat Housing
- Reattach hoses, reattach Altenator and belt, and reattach bracket.
- Fill with anti freeze/water, and run motor. Open radiator and allow air to escape - burp the system.

Hope that helps, here are the pictures!
 

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#2 ·
Earlier V10 had a plastic housing and no gasket it was part of the housing and the o ring was used. Your is metal and has a gasket so have to clean the surfaces like you said but nice write up.
 
#3 ·
Good to know, I didn't know that. I should've taken a picture of the nest that was behind my intake. I used my shop vac to get it all out and it was STUFFED all the way behind where the firewall covered the top of the engine. Pine cones were in there and everything, I'm actually surprised it never caught on fire- probably because the thermostat was stuck open not allowing the engine to get too hot.
 
#5 ·
The plastic one had problem which is why they changed. The gasket in them actually can be changed but try to find one good luck.
 
#6 ·
Maybe this is a dumb question, but can anyone explain what the two thermostats look so much different? Look at my pictures - the on in the truck that I removed looks much different than the new Stant Tstat I picked up.

I'm still going to install it, just wondering what the deal is.
 
#7 ·
The one on the bottem is broke the cylender came off and the spring is stuck open AKA bad thermostat. It looks corret to me I have changed at least 10 on our V10.
 
#8 ·
OHHH now I see, thanks for the clarification. Do these really go bad that fast?
 
#9 ·
Not really only had one go bad and the truck had 240,000 on it all the others were changed for lower degree t-stats.
 
#10 ·
Thank god. What else is done to the one where you lowered the Tstat temps?

I'm debating an SCT Tuner very soon, this has a ton of torque but doesn't pull all the way to the redline. Almost feels like no difference in power from half throttle to full throttle at times.
 
#11 ·
The SCT was by far the best power mod. I have custom exhaust, SCT, k&n cold air, electric fans about only other thing I want to do is a fastman.
 
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