- Replacement Thermostat
- New Gasket
- 5/8-Inch Socket and Ratchet
- Pliers
- Funnel
- Gallon of Coolant
- Shop Rags
Instructions:
1. Prep Your Car
- Pop open the hood of your Mustang and locate the thermostat. It is a small housing on the upper part of the engine, where the upper radiator hose meets the engine.
- Ensure that your engine is cool enough to touch to avoid any unnecessary burns.
- Place a bucket under the lower coolant hose as some antifreeze may drain when you pull the hose off.
2. Drain Antifreeze
- Start by removing the radiator pressure cap.
- Next, use the pliers to gently squeeze and pull the radiator hose out of the way so you can remove the thermostat. Be sure to let the antifreeze drain into the bucket.
3. Remove Thermostat
- Once all the antifreeze has been drained, you can use the 5/8-inch socket and ratchet to remove the two bolts that hold the thermostat housing in place. Be sure to keep these bolts, as you will reuse them later.
- Once you can lift the thermostat housing off, you should see the thermostat inside.
4. Insert New Thermostat
- Make sure to have the new gasket properly placed between the thermostat and thermostat housing before you reinstall the thermostat housing to ensure a proper seal.
- Hand-tighten the two bolts to hold the thermostat housing in place.
5. Refill Coolant
- Use the funnel to refill the coolant reservoir with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water.
- Replace the radiator cap.
6. Test Run
- Start the engine and test the thermostat by waiting to see if the temperature gauge rises to the halfway point. If it does not reach this point, the thermostat may be defective and need to be replaced again.
7. Cleanup
- Clean any antifreeze that has spilled with water.
- Check your coolant level once again to make sure it is full and secure the radiator cap tightly.
