Thermostat Cooler or hotter

[Chief34]

Ok guys, I have heard to different stories.
Who knows which will keep the truck running cooler?
A higher degree thermostat or lower number?
Seems like to me the engine will run at what temp the thermostat is: Therefore 160 would keep the truck cooler than a 180 or 195. this right? Thanks.
And oh yeah what happens if you just dont run a thermostat, besides the motor taking longer too heat up? Will it run cooler?

 

[Alec]

It's better to just run the stock degree thermostat, which will be 192 or 195. Some people run cooler thermostats and say it helps, but IMO it just causes more problems.

 

[aldive]

Unless you have modified the ECM, you should run a 195 thermostat.

 

[james t]

i also agree, unless you have a chip with alot of timing advance, run the stock 195. you can have a chip burned for a 180 degree and 93 octane that will have quite a bit of timing advance. either way, never run a 160. its just too cold.

 

[plrs x45]

I installed a High flow 195 and it never moves and I tow very often. Got it at pep boys for 6.95.

 

[Chief34]

Thank-you

 

[Kamaaina]

When I bought my '96 XLT new and opened the hood for the first time after a good drive I was hit with a thermal-nuclear blast of hot air. Seems like everything under the hood was getting fried but the temperature gauge registered in the middle of the band. I thought that, hey, this is normal so I left it for a while. Then I thought about how my plastic radiatior would hold up to all the heat and what about the tranny fluid being cooled by the radiator. I installed a 180-degree thermostat in place of the 195 and what a difference! I also learned that when the engine runs a little cooler the temperature sensor tells the PCM to advance the timing a little because less chance of pinging. Overall, the engine runs smoother, cooler and has no ping what-so-ever using cheap 87-octane gas. Although, a hotter running engine will get better gas mileage I'm thinking more about the longevity of all of the parts under the hood.