180 vs 195 Thermostat

[skokie]

I saw a thread on this a few months ago and I did a search but it didnt find anything under thermostat, 195 or 180. So here is the question. For a daily driver is a 180 or a 195 better? Engine is a crate 350.


Thanks

[70short/step]

For the crate 350 in our trucks I would run the 180. The 195 is more for the engine of today with emission control devices and computer controls.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I would go with the 180 degree. I run a 195 degree in my plow truck because it is driven in the winter and the higher temperature is nice for heating and making sure the engine does not collect moisture. We run 180 degree stats in the other trucks/cars that are not driven in the winter.

Jim

[special-K]

180 does the job.

[67shortie]

The late great Smokey Eunick one stated that the 180* wanter temp in a small block was the most ideal. I run 180's in all of my older engines.

[Zonaman]

I've got a 160 in mine. Is that unusual?

[ddsmith]

Originally Posted by Zonaman

I've got a 160 in mine. Is that unusual?

180 should be what is installed. I think the reason they sell 160 is that when people's cooling system isn't working very well they figure putting a 160 thermostat in will fix there problem. The engine likes 180 because that allows the oil to maintain the best temperature from a lubrication/cleaning stand point. The change to 195 was driven by lower emissions. That doesn't mean that is the best for the oil it's just a compromise. I would run 180 in everything. It gives you a cushion from an overheating condition of 15 more degrees. As long as you don't have a problem passing emissions testing if you have them.

[VetteVet]

I agree Skokie 180 cool (pun intended)

Originally Posted by Zonaman

I've got a 160 in mine. Is that unusual?

That should be fine for Pheonix and the hot weather. The thing to be careful of is having the t-stat open too soon and letting the coolant circulate through the radiator too fast for it to cool down. This happened to me once when I ran with no thermostat in traffic and the car almost overheated before I coul get out of the heavy traffic and speed up.

Vettevet

[Z28Owner]

I had a 180 in mine and when I went to fix a leak at my thermostat housing, I figured I try a 195 cause it would run 185 all the time. I put the 195 in and now it opens at 195 the cools back down to 185 and opens back up at 195. Guess it getting too cool. So I am gonna go back to a 180.

[86k10]

I'm going to go against the grain and say run 195 all year long no matter where you are. If your cooling system is in proper order you can do that even in the hottest weather. And keep in mind the warmer an engine runs to a point the less they wear and the more efficient they are and that's easy to understand since all carbureted engines idle faster when they are hot then when they are cold. But 180 is not enough so if you want to get your best fuel mileage then keep that temp up around 200.

[69 longhorn]

My vote is for the 180, with a stock fan setup. I run a 160 in my longhorn. but she runs dual elct fans, with a Painless fan control (on 185/ off 170). the sb pretty much runs tween 170-185, idling in traffic, or out on the open road, & the fans switch on/off like they should. with a 180 stat, she never overheated, but the fans ran nonstop! 69L

[71-longbed]

i just switch from a 180 to a 195 ... i like the 195 better ... My engine runs smoother with the 195 .. i make lots of short trips (under 5 miles) ...Works Great for me ...

[skokie]

Thanks for all the info here guys. I currently have a 180 in there now but I am about to put in new top and bottom radiator hoses and thats why I asked. WIth the 180 in there now the temp gets to 190-195 max. I think I will stick with the 180. Thanks again guys.