alternate temperature thermostat

[whitebroncoii87]

hi, i think OE recommended temp is 192 degrees, i was thinking of getting the 180 degree one for my 87 broncoii, is that a good idea or stick to oe? i'm in the ny climate region.

 

[Mark_88]

I think you want to get the temp as high as possible before circulating the fluids, especially in winter. I tried a lower temp thermostat and I didn't like the luke warm heat that my truck was throwing. With the higher temp thermostat it is not cooled as quickly so I think it stays hotter...but, of course, I had the 2.3 so it may be different with a V6 or V8...

 

[97RangerXLT]

stay with the OEM 192 degree T-Stat. it is what Ford designed the engine to use. Your engine runs more efficiently at higher temps as well.

AJ

 

[RonD]

Years ago engines used 160 and 180 t-stats.
SAE(the rating oil guys) and Ford did some testing on oil temps as they pertain to coolant temps.
They found that running engine coolant temp at minimum 190-195degF made the oil cleaner, burned off more contaminants, and also showed better MPG.
So extended engine life and better MPG..............

Will running 160 or 180degF t-stat hurt the engine, no, will "running cooler" make engine last longer, no, that was the point of the testing, 195degF makes engine last longer.
Will it help prevent overheating, no, popular myth, 160 or 195degF t-stat have the same opening size so circulate the same amount of coolant, the t-stat sets the MINIMUM operating temp so has nothing to do with over heating.
If your engine was low on coolant, has a leak, so started to over heat, which is when engine temp gets above 250degF, the 160 would be open all the way and the 195degF would be open all the way at 195 so maximum cooling for both, any temp above that has nothing to do with t-stat temp, starting 30degF cooler won't matter, doesn't work that way, if something is wrong with cooling system then it will overheat, starting point for both was outside air temp, lol.

Cleaner oil, better MPG, stick with stock