Thermostat Replacement - Use OEM?

[dnicholas47]

My thermostat on a 2019 is shot. Stealership wanted to charge $1300 to replace it, so I said thanks but no thanks. Question is am I better off using the redesigned Ford thermostat or an aftermarket one by Mishimoto that opens at 160 degrees? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mio-mmts-mus8-11

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[Rob6805]

OEM for sure.

 

[JasonH]

Use the OEM Ford one. That quote is ridiculous. Try calling around.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Stealership

HAHAHAHA... I like this, so funny but unfortunately, so true in some cases....

Like the one dealer who quoted me $3K to replace the power running boards on my 011 EL, cause

A) They don't sell the parts separately, and
B) They only sell & install the boards ONLY IN COMPLETE PAIRS....

Fortunately the boards themselves are still in great condition (i resurfaced the step area myself) and I only needed the motor and brackets for the left side, which I found online for $135

 

[LegalBrief]

Wasn’t there a thermostat redesign for 2018-2019 with TSB? Maybe even a recall? Something about them and manufacturer changes. O just can’t recall what (damn old age)

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

The Stant SuperStats were my go to, but they're no longer in production afaik. Whatever you go with, I would stick with factory temps.

 

[TheDoug]

Wasn’t there a thermostat redesign for 2018-2019 with TSB? Maybe even a recall? Something about them and manufacturer changes. O just can’t recall what (damn old age)

There was a redesign but not sure a TSB was sent out.

I went with an SPD 170°

 

[Ugh_J]

Ford quietly redesigned the thermostat in 2022...replace it

If you are having cooling issues you should know Ford quietly redesigned the thermostat in 2022. Replace it now if you have the old one. The problem was the thermostat sticking closed. The other thing to know is thermostats do not last forever and should be replaced every 50,000 miles or any...

www.expeditionforum.com

Some good related discussion in this thread.

 

[slow3v]

Go OEM only and get a requote. It's probably 3hr labor and the parts aren't too costly. Shop around, or ask what the $1300 consists of. Is there additional service? Coolant flush, hose replacement, is it the whole t-stat housing too? My dealer did the whole housing on mine too, apparently it can be ordered as a kit.

 

[dnicholas47]

Thanks everyone. They tried to tell me that gaskets that have to be removed are one time use and have to be ordered, and then went on about how much labor is involved, I guess assuming I hadn’t done any homework before I took it in. I will stick with the resigned OEM thermostat and find another dealer when I need something in the future.

 

[zak99b5]

I bought the redesigned plastic throat 180° OE motorcraft t stat and a gallon jug of coolant. Took me at most an hour to swap it out and refill the degas bottle. And while I’m an experienced DIYer, it’s almost all on VWs (Volkswagen—turning owners into mechanics since 1958). I’d done basically nothing to the expy before, mechanically speaking.

$1300 lol. I spent at most $60 in parts & supplies.

 

[18MaxLimited]

I went with the 160deg one because our aux fan was running on high speed all the time. Dealer checked EVERYTHING and found no faults. Adjusted to the new operating temp with a tune. Tuning after just a thermostat is not necessary, but more better...
Problem fixed.

Never did a thermostat before. Cost me $50 and 2hrs.

 

[lobsenza]

I just replaced my thermostat on my 2019 Navigator. I used OEM part number rt-1251. This thermostat is a 190 degree thermostat vs the rt-1252 which is the redesigned thermostat for my vehicle (195 degree thermostat). I live in TX. I felt the redesigned thermostat coupled with a 5 degree cooler temperature would improve engine and transmission cooling. Today was my first drive towing and the trans temp never went above 202. Previously, the trans temp was 212 without towing and 217 in towing (brief peak at 223 degrees). The outside temperature was around 78 degrees. The high trans temperatures were when the outside temperatures were in the 90s, so i am sure this is a factor. Without towing the trans temp was under 200.

I am on my 2nd trans after the first one failed at 240 degrees on the highway on a trip not towing.

More testing is needed.

 

[5280tunage]

I purchased the 180 degree stat from SPD as well, just never got around to putting it in. I had a similar stupid experience with my dealership which generally I really like but this ticked me off. I already had mine in to do a coolant flush, which essentially means its already empty at one point or another, and asked them if they would put in a new tstat while they were at it. They called me back and said the added labor would be around $800. That blew my mind, so I said no and will find a way to try and do it myself sometime.

 

[Dice Roll]

Mine cost 130 bucks or so for labor plus the new stat,
plus a coolant flush. Few hundred total. Was do the flush so was easy to add. It cooled things down about 15 degrees on the trans. Rt-1252

 

[lobsenza]

I did not bother with the flush since mine has only 28,000 miles and most of the coolant was replaced with the cam phasers.

My labor was $130 too from my favorite mechanic (not the dealer).

 

[keny01998]

Stick with new redesign. It took me less than an hour to replace it myself.

 

[lobsenza]

It feels like my gas mileage has improved with the new thermostat. I could be wrong because it is only a short time since the thermostat was replaced.

 

[Going_Going_Gone]

My thermostat on a 2019 is shot. Stealership wanted to charge $1300 to replace it, so I said thanks but no thanks. Question is am I better off using the redesigned Ford thermostat or an aftermarket one by Mishimoto that opens at 160 degrees? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mio-mmts-mus8-11

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I paid $2,135 for mine...however, that price included a coolant flush, four new Continental Terrain Contact AT tires (with road hazard warranties), and a 4-wheel alignment. Your dealer's price is nutz.

 

[HenryUTA]

Go OEM only and get a requote. It's probably 3hr labor and the parts aren't too costly. Shop around, or ask what the $1300 consists of. Is there additional service? Coolant flush, hose replacement, is it the whole t-stat housing too? My dealer did the whole housing on mine too, apparently it can be ordered as a kit.

I also just got my thermostat, pump and a heater hose replaced at the dealership and it was around $1400. $500 in parts and the rest labor.