I have an 1988 d150 with 318/throttle body injection and am about to go thru the cooling system, new radiator, water pump, hoses, etc., and was wondering what the pro's and con's are of using a 180' thermostat instead of the 195'?

 

the 180 will open earlier and will allow the engine to run cooler in general although I have heard of people going to the 180 or 160 and running hotter as a result of the thermostat just staying open and never allowing the coolant to cool. The 195 is better for winter as it will allow the engine to run slightly hotter. If this is a summer vehicle I would say 180 is the way to go. IMO.

 

michuy -

Providing you never pass the opening temp of the t-stat, you're always going to be fine.

The difference between a 180* and 190* (haven't seen a 195*) for a degree t-stat is 10*.

While there's a theory about a lower t-stat producing a faster over heat, due to the t-stat opening too early and not having the coolant in the radiator long enough, I haven't personally seen it happen.

I'm running a 160*, and normal operating temp is a shade over 160* probably due to variances in the tolerances of the t-stat and/or gauge(s).

It seems to give me more of a cushion when conditions get nasty.

Archer

 

the high temp stats are to keep water out of the oil. all acids are water base, you DO NOT want water in your oil. when you burn gasoline it makes all most a gal of water for each gal of gas. gas has hydrogen , air has oxygen. when heated together they make water. dont beleave me? where does all the water in your tail pipe come from? check this out.