OEM T-stat trip temperature?

[DoctorQ]

Does anyone happen to know what approx temperature the OEM thermostat opens at? Today was a fairly warm day (101F), but I noticed my temp gauge was reading between 215 - 220F. When T-stat does open, it will drop down, but not below 190-195F. I'm using the PLX DM100 OBDII 32-sensor module which reads off the PCM realtime. Seems high.. so not sure if T-stat gets stuck or if that is a normal temp range. Coolant level is fine. Thx.

 

[DoctorQ]

Wow... feeling like the beat-down red-headed step child... where's the love? Anyway, I found a certified Ford Tech who answered the question. Posting response here in case anyone else was curious:

"The 4.6L 3v thermostat should start to open at about 175*-182* F but won't be fully open until 202* F. The cooling fan should cycle on at about 208*-212* F. If you had a cooling system overtemperature fault, DTC P0217 should set. 215* F operating temperature is pretty typical, and does not indicate a problem.
Cooling fan operation is what actually controls engine temperature since it is responsible for pulling air through the radiator core. Since the fan doesn't come on until engine temperatures are above 200* F, coolant temperautre will roughly correspond."

 

[AirGoNomyk]

Wow... feeling like the beat-down red-headed step child... where's the love? Anyway, I found a certified Ford Tech who answered the question. Posting response here in case anyone else was curious:

"The 4.6L 3v thermostat should start to open at about 175*-182* F but won't be fully open until 202* F. The cooling fan should cycle on at about 208*-212* F. If you had a cooling system overtemperature fault, DTC P0217 should set. 215* F operating temperature is pretty typical, and does not indicate a problem.
Cooling fan operation is what actually controls engine temperature since it is responsible for pulling air through the radiator core. Since the fan doesn't come on until engine temperatures are above 200* F, coolant temperautre will roughly correspond."

Hmmmmm, I have an AeroForce guage connected to my OBDII port and I don't think I've ever seen 200...usually between 194 and 197

 

[Fullboogie]

I bought my '08 brand new, and the thermostat has "192F" stamped on it - and it ran at 195+ before changing it out.

 

[scramblr]

Hmmmmm, I have an AeroForce guage connected to my OBDII port and I don't think I've ever seen 200...usually between 194 and 197

I have and it's usually within 5 degrees of my Autometer temp gauge. It does however, average around 193 degrees with 50/50 water/coolant. Getting ready to switch that to 80/20 for the summer.

 

[Charlie Sheen]

Does anyone happen to know what approx temperature the OEM thermostat opens at?...

Depends on the model year. There are numerous threads on this very subject.

 

[69Mach1-409]

Highest I've seen on the SCT is 202. She hit that after a long heat soak while waiting in line and then a 1/4 mile blast. The norm temps I see are in the 194-196 range.