Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Lousy thermostats

[GAmes]

I flushed and refilled my radiator today. The rubber coating on the thermostat was partially missing and deteriorated. It only had 32,000 miles on it. The last one looked the same, but I thought the flushing chemicals had eaten it up, so this time I removed it first, before adding the flush. This engine did get up to 210 or so a couple of times this summer before I replaced the fan clutch. Is this a normal thing caused by running hot or a poor design?

 

[RM]

yeah i had a thermostat stick on me after about 40k miles it stuck open it had the rubber around it stuck in it . i think maybe theres two different sizes of rubber sealing ring this one had a new one i got from cummins and i compared it to the original and the original was bigger or thicker around so i put that one back in havent had any problem since . but let me ask you a question? are you using long life antifreeze? i feel that long life can attack rubber ive seen a lot of radiator caps the rubber looks like its going bad with long life and i suspect it of getting my head gasket too on a 96ctd. just my opion though no facts.

 

[Deezul1]

My old stat did the same thing, the rubber got in the way so it wouldnt close

 

[SRadke]

The rubber was stuck in the stat on my 96 when I bought it at 110K. I replaced it with one that cycled terribly. Replaced that one with another that cycled terribly and finallygot one that wouldn't get above 160. I just put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator for the winter.

-Scott

 

[illflem]

Scott, be careful with that cardboard. Unless you cover 100% of the radiator or have a hole exactly in the center the uneven air flow can break your fan. Every time each fan blade passes the airflow it flexes a little till the steel finally breaks, seen it happen a couple of times, one took the radiator with it.



I had the rubber come off on my stat and hold it open, I just took the rubber off and tossed it. Worked just fine till I got around to changing it 20k later.

 

[SRadke]

Actually I covered the whole radiator and cut out an 8" diameter hole in the center to allow the fan clutch to cool. It worked great for 2 years until I sold the truck.

-Scott

 

[Joe G.]

Originally posted by ronmonical

let me ask you a question? are you using long life antifreeze? i feel that long life can attack rubber ive seen a lot of radiator caps the rubber looks like its going bad with long life and i suspect it of getting my head gasket too on a 96ctd.

Could someone comment on this question?



I was going to change to long life antifreeze some time ago (about 50K or so on the truck I think). I read some things that indicated that there would be problems with gaskets and other things so I stayed with regular antifreeze. So far, so good. 123K miles on the original stat. It's working the same way it did when it was new. I use distilled water and Prestone.

 

[GAmes]

No long life antifreeze for me either. Prestone and distilled water after the Prestone flush.