Need Help On Replacing A Thermostat On A 1993 Ford Taurus 3.8 Litter Engine?

[tBee]

I have a bad thermostat that I need to replace. I know it is located at the end of the top radiator hose. There are two or three bolts to remove at the end of this hose. (1st question) After i remove the bolts and catch what anti-freeze that comes out, Is it located under this?

(2nd question) After I put the new thermostat in, how do I fix the thermostat gasket?

[RobertM]

The new thermostat should come with a new gasket. You will have to do some cleaning of both the base and housing to remove old gasket. Some gaskets have stick-um built right on them. Ask for this kind at the parts store. Be aware that the 3.8 engine has over-heat sen-sitivities. More 3.8's are ruined by overheating than any other problem. To prevent this, change your engine cooling fan switch. Doing so insures that the electric cooling fan will operate when it should. Also, this is a good time to flush out your entire cooling system and use the new genuine Ford coolant (which is YELLOW). It will last longer than the stuff the factory put in back in 1993, and will protect the aluminum and plastic parts of your cooling system better. NOTE: There is NO such thing as a universal engine coolant! Don't believe the dude at the local parts store, Trust me!! Another thing to do is to power wash the entire engine compartment. Focus especially on the space between the radiator and A/C condenser. Over time, debris always collects here and prevents adequate air flow around BOTH units. This, also, will help to prevent "hot" spots throught the cooling system. This is also a good time to throughly clean out your throttle body and plate, idle air control valve, and PCV valve and hoses. This will help to stabilize the air/fuel mixture and also keep the engine running cooler (because the mixture is right). For even better performance, install Bosch Platinum single points or Nippondenso Iridium plugs. They simply are more efficient. You will be amazed at the increase in power and driveability. For even better results, have your crankcase chemically cleaned, and switch to Mobil One (0w-40) or ELF or Amzoil. You can extend your drain intervals and actually SAVE $$$$$$. E-mail me back with your results, if you like. Good Luck!!

[garyo]

you should drain some of the antifreeze first and catch in a pan as it is toxic to cats and dogs. then remove the bolts as you mentioned and pull out to remove the thermostat. note the position so you can get in right. the gasket fits around the enge of the thermostat. you can see this by looking at the old one. when putting the bolts back be sure to evenly tighten and do not over torque as you can easily strip.