If you are referring to the upper radiator hose, then there is a spring inside the hose that keeps it from collapsing over time. It is normal and is intended to be there, so DO NOT REMOVE IT!
In the water neck The housing on top of the engine at the end of the upper hose
On the 4.7, the thermostat housing is at the end of the lower radiator hose. It is at the top for all other V8's.
All thermostats are usually located in the housing where the top most radiator hose meets the engine.
If it has the 5.9 just follow the hose coming from the top of radiator. That hose should run to the top of your engine. At he end of this hose there should be 2 bolts. This is you thermostat housing. Just remove the bolts and hose and replace with new thermostat and gasket. Tighten bolts and clamp.
not hard, follow top rad hose, to end take out two bolts pull hose back thermo in end of hose pop out of hose and don't for get change gascket
Non 4.7L Follow the top radiator hose to the top of the engine intake. The hose goes on to the thermostat housing. Take off the housing, the thermostat is inside. when you replace the thermostat, be sure it is oriented the same way as the one you removed. 4.7L, follow the lower radiator hose to the engine, it is under that housing.
Non 4.7L Follow the top radiator hose to the top of the engine intake. The hose goes on to the thermostat housing. Take off the housing, the thermostat is inside. when you replace the thermostat, be sure it is oriented the same way as the one you removed. 4.7L, follow the lower radiator hose to the engine, it is under that housing.
It is right on top where the top hose goes to the motor. There are four bolts and some hoses not to hard to change; one bolt under the intake is hard to get other than that it is not hard to do. On a 2.7L it is under the housing where the LOWER hose hooks to the engine, not the upper.
on the bottom left corner of the front of the engine there is a hose coming from the radiator. AFTER DRAINING THE RADIATOR take the hose loose on the engine side, then remove the bolts the are around the place you just took the hose from. Inside there is the thermostat.
"Sounds like the thermostat is stuck open." Did it used to?
If the temp gauge reads normal and the engine is not overheating, this is normal. The system is designed to hold 15-17 psi of pressure (whatever the radiator cap is set for). This pressure will make the hoses feel hard.
When you open the hood, look for the top radiator hose. Then follow that hose to the engine. You will see a metal piece that hose clamps to that is held onto the engine by two nuts. Remove those two nuts and pull up the metal piece. You will find the thermostat there. If you are replacing the Thermostat, be sure to get the gasket also or you will have a leak there.