Love all these suggestions, but they are missing the point - is the engine in fact running hot? How do you know? If you are relying on a dash light or gauge to tell you it is overheating, it is often a faulty temperature sensor giving you a bad reading. In any case, you should diagnose the system before plunging in. You can check cooling performance by checking the temperature at the radiator and hoses, but be careful - can be very hot - safest way is to use an IR temperature measuring device. Check the top rad hose which returns the coolant to the engine to see if it is very hot - if so, even though you replaced the thermostat, it is probably sticking (faulty or installed wrong). If not overly hot, check the radiator - you should have a relatively even temperature distribution over the radiator, cooler at the top to hotter at the bottom. If not, you probably have a radiator problem (usually plugging). If all temperatures seem normal around the engine, replace the temperature sensor. If not and it is in fact overheating, did you check the rad pressure cap? It must be holding design pressure in the cooling system, and system must be full of coolant with no air locks otherwise the engine will overheat.When changing pump or thermostat, it is always a good idea to replace the cap. Also, there are specific procedures for each engine when refilling the system to avoid air locks - alldatadiy.com has all the info you need.
First check that there is nothing blocking the radiator sometimes plastic bags will get into the front through the bottom air deflector and cover the condenser or radiator next if that's clear ok ///was your vehicle worked on recently by someone other than you if so check for stop leak it's either a tan sandy grit or reddish brown sludge if that's in there you will have to flush the entire system multiple times and use oxalic acid or trisodium phosphate or phosphoric acid or pepsi/coke yes it's in there and not as strong as straight acid post back if you see this and I'll take you further on what to do next you have a heater bypass valve that could be closed causing the coolant to stop moving also did you put the thermostat in facing the right direction? Was this vehicle running normal before this ? and do your cooling fans work on high and low speed to check put the ac on you should see and hear the fans come on if the temperature stays down that's good and the relay is working but only for that circuit you must download the owners manual from ford owners.com and go to roadside emergencies and your fuse box diagrams and values and relay locations are there check that you feel them click on to turn on the cooling fans if they all work that's good and we have a clogging issue but under normal operation ///NO AC BEING ON/// if the engine starts to overheat and the fans do not come on then the coolant temperature sensor is bad or that relay for regular fan operation is bad all fuses must be checked and also clean the blades on them and the relays also check the plugs for you cooling fans also go to rockauto.Com and look up your vehicle then you will be able to see the parts I've mentioned here so you know what to look for if you have to flush the engine the thermostat must come out and you'll need a flush kit adapter for a hose please post back if problems persist and be precise about what you are saying because obviously none of us are there to ask you questions or check ourselves so we need you to be our eyes and ears EX. YOU LEFT OUT ENGINE SIZE I HAD TO LOOK IT UP 3.0 okay but I have pretty much covered all the bases for you if you did the work are you absolutely sure that the thermostat is facing the right direction and you didn't leave a cleaning rag in there and the hoses aren't kinked check all please and I'm a taxi mechanic with 50 years experience in nyc and that's where your getting this info from good luck stephen
I take help from online websites that have this service like helping in repair some like reliable-store have instant help.. others are a bit slow which I don't prefer... rest is up to u.. U can also get free manuals
Not sure what you mean by running hot, but check the radiator for scale. Even a little will plug the veins and greatly reduce heat transfer. Also, check for bugs and other materials that are blocking air flow through the radiator. Is your radiator fan running when hot? If so, that's good that the fan is functioning.
Answers & Comments
Love all these suggestions, but they are missing the point - is the engine in fact running hot? How do you know? If you are relying on a dash light or gauge to tell you it is overheating, it is often a faulty temperature sensor giving you a bad reading.
In any case, you should diagnose the system before plunging in.
You can check cooling performance by checking the temperature at the radiator and hoses, but be careful - can be very hot - safest way is to use an IR temperature measuring device.
Check the top rad hose which returns the coolant to the engine to see if it is very hot - if so, even though you replaced the thermostat, it is probably sticking (faulty or installed wrong).
If not overly hot, check the radiator - you should have a relatively even temperature distribution over the radiator, cooler at the top to hotter at the bottom. If not, you probably have a radiator problem (usually plugging).
If all temperatures seem normal around the engine, replace the temperature sensor. If not and it is in fact overheating, did you check the rad pressure cap? It must be holding design pressure in the cooling system, and system must be full of coolant with no air locks otherwise the engine will overheat.When changing pump or thermostat, it is always a good idea to replace the cap. Also, there are specific procedures for each engine when refilling the system to avoid air locks - alldatadiy.com has all the info you need.
First check that there is nothing blocking the radiator sometimes plastic bags will get into the front through the bottom air deflector and cover the condenser or radiator next if that's clear ok ///was your vehicle worked on recently by someone other than you if so check for stop leak it's either a tan sandy grit or reddish brown sludge if that's in there you will have to flush the entire system multiple times and use oxalic acid or trisodium phosphate or phosphoric acid or pepsi/coke yes it's in there and not as strong as straight acid post back if you see this and I'll take you further on what to do next you have a heater bypass valve that could be closed causing the coolant to stop moving also did you put the thermostat in facing the right direction? Was this vehicle running normal before this ? and do your cooling fans work on high and low speed to check put the ac on you should see and hear the fans come on if the temperature stays down that's good and the relay is working but only for that circuit you must download the owners manual from ford owners.com and go to roadside emergencies and your fuse box diagrams and values and relay locations are there check that you feel them click on to turn on the cooling fans if they all work that's good and we have a clogging issue but under normal operation ///NO AC BEING ON/// if the engine starts to overheat and the fans do not come on then the coolant temperature sensor is bad or that relay for regular fan operation is bad all fuses must be checked and also clean the blades on them and the relays also check the plugs for you cooling fans also go to rockauto.Com and look up your vehicle then you will be able to see the parts I've mentioned here so you know what to look for if you have to flush the engine the thermostat must come out and you'll need a flush kit adapter for a hose please post back if problems persist and be precise about what you are saying because obviously none of us are there to ask you questions or check ourselves so we need you to be our eyes and ears EX. YOU LEFT OUT ENGINE SIZE I HAD TO LOOK IT UP 3.0 okay but I have pretty much covered all the bases for you if you did the work are you absolutely sure that the thermostat is facing the right direction and you didn't leave a cleaning rag in there and the hoses aren't kinked check all please and I'm a taxi mechanic with 50 years experience in nyc and that's where your getting this info from good luck stephen
I take help from online websites that have this service like helping in repair some like reliable-store have instant help.. others are a bit slow which I don't prefer... rest is up to u.. U can also get free manuals
Not sure what you mean by running hot, but check the radiator for scale. Even a little will plug the veins and greatly reduce heat transfer. Also, check for bugs and other materials that are blocking air flow through the radiator. Is your radiator fan running when hot? If so, that's good that the fan is functioning.
It could have a leak in the cooling system, hoses, radiator. You may need to add coolant to the radiator.