Thermostat problem or something else?

Question

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer and have had a problem. The temperature gauge will slowly rise as I'm driving and will go to the top to indicate a hot temperature. I take my foot off the gas, and the gauge goes down. Once the gauge goes down, it will bottom out at the half way mark like always and will stay there, I thought. Until today, when the gauge did it again. It bottomed out, but I had to stop and wait for traffic before I could turn. This caused the problem to start again. Any ideas? Like I said, it goes down when I take my foot off the gas, it hits the half-way mark, and stays there until I stop. It started Monday night, didn't do it at all on Tuesday, and did it again today. And it does it first thing in the morning, and stop usually in less than 5 minutes of driving.

Update:

If anything, I would think it was the coolant level. There was a leak in the truck that I could see and smell. I fixed the visual part, but I can still smell burning anti-freeze when driving a while. So I'll put whatever anti-freeze I have left in the radiator before going to school. Flushing sounds easy, I can do that myself, as well as the thermostat. Thanks for the help!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I would get your coolant flushed and fill it up again , it sounds like you have some air in there, if that doesn't work try replacing the thermostat.

avengence@pacbell.net · Answer

Sounds like low coolant or a bad water pump.

santobugito · Answer

Yes, could be the thermostat, or you could have air in the system. Check for any small cracks or worn spots in the hoses, and make sure that your rad is full.

Silverstang · Answer

Seems to me, as to what you are describing, is No coolant in the radiator.

maj19672008 · Answer

sounds like air in you system  and change your thermostat.

Wilkerson B · Answer

check your coolant level and mixture.

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Thermostat problem or something else?

6 Answers