Hello everyone, its been quite awhile since i've been on here, so have been doing lots of reading! Anyway, I plan to change the coolant and replace the thermostat on my truck (2000 Ranger XLT 2.5 5speed 106k miles) and have a few questions. Ok so after having a few panther platform cars in the past dealing with the 4.6 coolant crossover garbage, when replacing my thermostat, should I also replace the plastic housing as well, just as a maint item, are they pretty prone to cracking? I have a family member in the parts buisness, so can get them fairly reasonable. Any other info from your past experiences on this would be much appreciated!

As far as the coolant change goes, I have never been a fan of doing flushes, so my plan is to drain what I can, and not sure if this is the case on the ranger, but my corolla also has a block drain too. Then fill up and call it a day. Again, any comments or tips from your past experiences are appreciated. Thanks again everyone, and look forward to hearing from you!

 

It been two weeks since your post, so you've probably already changed the coolant. But if not, I wouldn't replace the housing. I've never replaced mine and it has 200k miles on it. I know your pain for the Ford 4.6 coolant cross over leak. I had to change my 1996 Mustang GT intake manifold twice. Once was under their 7 year soft recall warranty and the other I had to myself.

I think our TS housing is slightly thicker and a better material than that DuPont Zytel nylon-composite. All I know is that I have had no problems. I don't use gasket material on this but Permatex.

When I change the coolant, I always backflush using the prestone flush and fill kit. Drain as much as you can ( I dont think there is a block drain.) Then I add either 50/50 coolant mix or pure antifreeze with distilled water (make sure its distilled, or your gonna be replacing a water pump with rotted off impellars.)