- Joined
- Feb 3, 2012
- Posts
- 1,623
- Reaction score
- 175
- Ram Year
- 2013
- Engine
- 5.7 Hemi
So when I started this job I thought replacing the t-stat on these newer Rams was going to be like every other T-stat I have done which has only been 2 on 2 different vehicles. Well I was slightly wrong. Everything is identical except for the seal around the t-stat...yes I said around if that surprises anybody cause it did surprise me a bit. Reason why is because the other two vehicles I've done one on used a seal that went between the engine and the housing.
Step one: Drain the radiator. I didn't take a picture of the drain because I didn't think about it during the whole process but the drain is located at the bottom left hand side of the radiator. Give it a few good turns with a 17mm wrench and then it should pop right out and start making a huge mess, at least in my case it did....
Step two: Remove two bolts on housing once sufficiently drained which is just having the top hose empty.
Step three: Remove t-stat. Unless you're a big strong man and can man-handle that stat out of there with your hand, the easiest way I found to remove it was grabbing an end of the arch with a pair of pliers and pull, it'll pop right out.
Step four: Pull the seal off of the old t-stat and put it around the new one.
Step five: Do steps three and two in reverse. You will need to work that seal into the space the thermostat sits in by the way, it's a little bit of a tight fit. But if you don't ensure that the seal is in the hole nicely or at least half way, you could risk ripping the seal I'd imagine when you go to reattach the housing and then you'd have a leak.
And finally step six: Make sure you have reinstalled the plug at the bottom of the radiator, fill radiator until bubbles stop coming up and the level stays about the same then turn on your truck letting it warm up until the t-stat opens and put in more fluid if necessary. Once the engine is at operating temp, make sure fluid is about an 1" below the top of the spout and close her up. Be sure to check it within the next 24 to 48 hours if you do some driving to ensure proper fluid level.
And now here's pictures:
I have each flag marked with the step number they belong to
And here's the new t-stat with the seal around it so you can see what I meant by it going around the thermostat itself.
And a zoomed out picture of it installed
Step one: Drain the radiator. I didn't take a picture of the drain because I didn't think about it during the whole process but the drain is located at the bottom left hand side of the radiator. Give it a few good turns with a 17mm wrench and then it should pop right out and start making a huge mess, at least in my case it did....
Step two: Remove two bolts on housing once sufficiently drained which is just having the top hose empty.
Step three: Remove t-stat. Unless you're a big strong man and can man-handle that stat out of there with your hand, the easiest way I found to remove it was grabbing an end of the arch with a pair of pliers and pull, it'll pop right out.
Step four: Pull the seal off of the old t-stat and put it around the new one.
Step five: Do steps three and two in reverse. You will need to work that seal into the space the thermostat sits in by the way, it's a little bit of a tight fit. But if you don't ensure that the seal is in the hole nicely or at least half way, you could risk ripping the seal I'd imagine when you go to reattach the housing and then you'd have a leak.
And finally step six: Make sure you have reinstalled the plug at the bottom of the radiator, fill radiator until bubbles stop coming up and the level stays about the same then turn on your truck letting it warm up until the t-stat opens and put in more fluid if necessary. Once the engine is at operating temp, make sure fluid is about an 1" below the top of the spout and close her up. Be sure to check it within the next 24 to 48 hours if you do some driving to ensure proper fluid level.
And now here's pictures:
I have each flag marked with the step number they belong to
And here's the new t-stat with the seal around it so you can see what I meant by it going around the thermostat itself.
And a zoomed out picture of it installed