Went to a local Auto zone to pick up a thermostat for my car. mine stuck open. i decided to go for a 192, because the car runs better the warmer it is. i was going for a fail safe thermostat, until i asked them what temp the fail safe is at? i was thinking it was either 250 or 280. they told me it was at 192, because thats what it said on the box <opening temp, but there was no fail safe temp on box>. so i asked them, every time the car goes up to operating temp, i need to replace the 'stat? they were like yeah, after all 192 is pretty hot. i disagreed, and also mentioned that my cooling fan doesnt even come on until 215. they were like . then told them the idiot light didnt even come on until 250. they were like . i then told them that i have had the car up over 240 at least 5 times. they were like . so i went with just a regular stat, as i mentioned the cast iron block head to toe.

so now i ask, what is the fail safe temp of a fail safe 'stat?


EDIT: you should of seen the look on their faces when i told them we had the car up to about 400 one time, and all it did was start putting coolant in the oil. <could have been cracked block, or head gasket>

400? thats just stupid, ur risking stuff there, id say 250 is your absolute maximum failsafe, me being a ford tech and such, lol

Yeah, I had the bonne to the red header stage one time, Cool it off and it still runs. Lower rad hose


I'd guess the fail-safe would be around 275-300.

ok i work at autozone. fail safe is a brand name. its our top of the line. the idiots that i hear i work with.

i should prolly rephrase this. i believe the failsafe thermostats have a device on them that if they get over a certain temp, they lock open so that you dont keep using a fried thermostat. when they lock open, they need to be replaced.

btw, most the time guys at autozone are pretty good, but not these guys

never heard of that but i suppose it'* possible, but i tihnk you have alot more to worry about then ur tstat if u managed to get ur engine that hot

yeah theres not alot of us who know wtf were talking about or even care. checked and failsafe is just the brand name, there is no fail safe stat availible from us

well, look up the part and go pull it, and read the box

it said it did it, but not when.

1984 ford tempo gl, 2.3, with ac, blah blah blah