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Factory thermostat vs. SPD 180 degree thermostat

schaggatron

schaggatron

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I have seen some debate, and have a couple of questions:

1) What is the factory thermostat on the '20 Explorer ST rated for? (180º or is it confirmed higher?)
2) If one has the vehicle factory tuned, is it still worth swapping out for an SPD 180º t-stat?
3) If running factory, will you get an engine code after swapping thermostats?
4) What are the downsides (if any) to swapping thermostats?

I started this because I didn't want to take over UNBROKEN's thread (which I really dig). I did search these forums and elsewhere and didn't find a ton of concrete info.
 

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blkst

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Following

Sent from my SM-G975W using Tapatalk
 

OP
schaggatron

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Still researching, haven't found answers yet.
 

jrgoffin

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The stock RT1225:

RT1225.jpg

There's lots of info in the thread I created on a 170° version, which I'm guessing you have seen. Those of us in the Cobra world have been using the 170 for years, which is another model that is easily crafted with two Stant thermostats for less than $20. Some reading on it from my Terminator site: http://www.terminator-cobra.com/cooling.htm#170°_Thermostat
 

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Thanks. :)
 

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kpkimmel1983

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The fact you have to remove the air box bracket and rad house to get to this makes it not worth your time.
 

UNBROKEN

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kpkimmel1983 said:
The fact you have to remove the air box bracket and rad house to get to this makes it not worth your time.
Click to expand...
It’s 3 bolts on the bracket and 2 on the t-stat housing. No hoses need to come off. Took all of 10 minutes.
 

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kpkimmel1983

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UNBROKEN said:
It’s 3 bolts on the bracket and 2 on the t-stat housing. No hoses need to come off. Took all of 10 minutes.
Click to expand...
the pipe sites right above the housing, not sure how you removed it without dropping any bolts.
 

UNBROKEN

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kpkimmel1983 said:
the pipe sites right above the housing, not sure how you removed it without dropping any bolts.
Click to expand...
I popped the airbox bracket off then the 2 bolts in the housing, pulled it back, swapped the t-stat, put the o-ring back in and bolted it back together.
 

OP
schaggatron

schaggatron

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Just gotta find time to do it. Life.... gets in the way sometimes. :)
 

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AntD77

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Why swap one 180° t-stat for another 180° t-stat?
 

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AntD77

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UNBROKEN said:
Because nobody ever makes a typo. lol
Click to expand...
It not only says it in the thread title, but it is also said in the post, which is why I asked what I did.

There is also an edit feature, and since it was never edited, nor corrected throughout the post, I thought I was missing something.
 

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UNBROKEN said:
Because nobody ever makes a typo. lol
Click to expand...
Because SPD makes a 180 & 170 option. Apparently the factory thermostat on the ST is 180, so getting the SPD 180 is virtually pointless. So you'd think "hey I should get the 170." Except if you live in a colder climate it may make more sense to keep the factory (180) thermostat.


AntD77 said:
It not only says it in the thread title, but it is also said in the post, which is why I asked what I did.

There is also an edit feature, and since it was never edited, nor corrected throughout the post, I thought I was missing something.
Click to expand...
Correct. There was no edit. the 180 in the post/title was deliberate. :)
 

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AntD77

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schaggatron said:
Because SPD makes a 180 & 170 option. Apparently the factory thermostat on the ST is 180, so getting the SPD 180 is virtually pointless. So you'd think "hey I should get the 170." Except if you live in a colder climate it may make more sense to keep the factory (180) thermostat.




Correct. There was no edit. the 180 in the post/title was deliberate. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the clarification!
 

jrgoffin

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schaggatron said:
Because SPD makes a 180 & 170 option. Apparently the factory thermostat on the ST is 180, so getting the SPD 180 is virtually pointless. So you'd think "hey I should get the 170." Except if you live in a colder climate it may make more sense to keep the factory (180) thermostat.




Correct. There was no edit. the 180 in the post/title was deliberate. :)
Click to expand...
That's looks like a Stant thermostat or an OE Motorcraft, which is made by Stant. If you see "STC" on the bottom, for Stant Thermostat Corporation, that will tell you. A certain on-line vendor that sells the 170° for a ridiculous price uses them as well. It's why I pointed out how easy it was to make them a low-cost DIY project rather than pay three times as much for the same thing.

STC.jpg
 

MonkeysWashingCats

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What kind of climates would the 170 make sense? Southern California for instance.
 

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