sdmartin65

I installed a 180 Mr Gasket thermostat back a couple months with my new engine. I'd been freezing with it and was trying to make it thru the winter but yesterday the temp barely climbed into the normal zone. In went a 195 from Oreilly. Not sure what I was thinking with that 180.

Edit. The design of the Mr Gasket is a bit different than a standard thermostat, I couldn't really see anything wrong with it. I really thought 180 would have been fine for the winter.

nrivera04

Might see a slight increase in fuel mileage too... The ECm won't be using as much fuel trying to constantly get the engine up to temp.

qdeezie

I'm a Stant Superstat kinda guy. It is heavier than regular thermostats (which to me says better quality).

Just my observation, but it also gets warmer much faster than other thermostats when it's cold out and the quality of the heat is much, much better.

Had a buddy of mine try one in his Chevy truck and his observation was the same as well about the faster heat.

Also, I just run the OEM temperature. I am of the opinion that a hotter temperature helps keep the engine oil hotter, which keeps the engine cleaner. I have no scientific proof, but I rarely see new engines (with 190+ stats) sludged up unless the oil was never changed, whereas the older engines with colder themostats I always used to see a buildup.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

That engine was designed to run hotter than 180. The Ford engineers called for a 192.
The only time I would consider a 180 is in extremely hot weather and doing a lot of heavy hauling and hill climbing (camper or trailer in the mountains in summer kind of thing).
I don't think the engine ever reaches it's peak efficiency level at 180.