Thermostat

[monkeyracing]

Did you ever notice that in the Ford service manual it says to install the thermostat with the small valve at the top, but the picture shows it towards the rear?

Which is it supposed to be?

Jim

[b3 madness]

I do not think that it really matters which way it is installed, but since heat rises I would have the small valve facing the top.

[scitzz]

the post with the spring should always face the engine....

[skeeters_keeper]

when I was re-assembling my B6 I read that in the manual, and then noticed that it was installed on the B3 with the valve facing the rear, so since it had been working for 140k on the B3 thats how i installed it on the B6, but my coolant gauge barely ever goes above the lower white line now, so i'm wondering if something is wrong...

[jglutz]

For all t'stats...the bulb goes to the hotter side of the circuit...the engine side in the festiva. The bulb is the part that senses temperature and expands to open the unit. Some old European styles have the spring and bulb on opposite sides. The little valve on the disk portion of the t'stat always goes to the top, this hellps air escap and the engine to fill up from the bottom.

[FB71]

I think he's talking about the smaller of the two valves in a two-stage t-stat, not the wax pellet bulb of a standard single-stage.

You're fine as long as the small valve is positioned anywhere in the top half.

[monkeyracing]

Yup, not worried about which way it goes in, in terms of front/back. It was a concern with the orientation of the smaller of the two valves. I think the question has been answered. Thanks guys!

Jim