The Ford Ranger has used several different motor sizes, but the most common four-cylinder engine size is the 2.3-liter engine. This engine has a basic design with the thermostat located inside the thermostat housing on the lower engine block. You must lift the Ranger to access the thermostat.
Instructions
- 1
Drive the Ford Ranger onto a set of front-end ramps. Place a wheel chuck behind the rear tire to prevent the vehicle from rolling off the ramps.
2Squeeze the compression tabs on the radiator hose clamp located at the base of the lower radiator. Squeezing the tabs with pliers opens the clamp and releases pressure on the hose. Pull the hose off the radiator. Drain the contents of the radiator into a drain pan.
3Follow the lower radiator hose to where it is secured to the engine block. The hose connects to the thermostat housing. Loosen the clam and remove the hose the same way you did in Step 2.
4Remove the two bolts that secure the housing to the engine block with a socket and ratchet.
5Pull the thermostat gasket off the engine block. Pull the used thermostat out of the block.
6Place the new thermostat into the engine block of the Ranger. Put the end with the large spring into the engine block. Put the end with the pin sticking out of the thermostat into the thermostat housing.
7Wipe the surface of the block and the bottom of the thermostat housing with a shop towel.
8Place the new gasket against the engine block. Hold the gasket and the thermostat in place while you place the thermostat housing over both.
9Secure everything with the two bolts removed previously.
10Place the lower radiator hose onto the thermostat housing and the water outlet tube on the bottom of the radiator. Secure both ends with the radiator hose clamps.
11Put two gallons of radiator fluid and two gallons of distilled water into the radiator.
