Do I really need a new housing the 203* thermostat?

[Scar13]

Do I really need a new housing the 203* thermostat?

Its a 2003 I doubt its rusted??

Just asking bfore I order one part when I shoudl have goten 2?

 

[dpantazis]

"need" is a relative term. rust is not the only issue- it's a stamped sheet metal and is not very 'durable'. figure that you will at least need a little tube of waterpump and thermostat goop and maybe a little persuading to flatten the ears if they are bent.

 

[White Buffalo]

Just as dpantazis stated. It's not that it is old & rusted, it's more that the darn thing won't seat right most of the times when you go to reinstall it. Not all of the time, but many times people have reused the original housing and it tended to leak. Dieselsite sells two kinds for a replacement. One just like the OEM and a billet one.

 

[jvencius]

Do I really need a new housing the 203* thermostat?

Its a 2003 I doubt its rusted??

Just asking bfore I order one part when I shoudl have goten 2?

Look at the WIKI article on thermostat replacement--I wrote it and even though my truck is a 2002, that stock housing was nasty enough I wouldn't even have thought to try and reuse it.

 

[RSG]

I just had a new water pump (warranty) put in. The ford dealer re-used the housing for the t-stat. I got new fluid, apparently a new t-stat...and of course wasn't satisfied: I got a coolant filter and 203F t-stat.

After install of all, with no goop and careful sequential tightening, I have no leaks between the t-stat, the original housing, and the original tube. Maybe I'm just lucky, but that would be unusual if you know what I mean!

If I did buy a new housing, it would be the aluminum billet housing. Looks tough!

 

[whatabudro]

I went with the billet to shed a few more pounds off the truck

 

[aklim]

What does this 203 do from the stock 195?

 

[White Buffalo]

Here is the link to a good explanation by Dieselsite.com

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=186