thermostat question

[Knuckles4696]

what is a better fit a 192 or 195 thermostat, i live in mesa, arizona not sure if that impacts anything. also does someone have a link to the phoenix project thing website? TYVM

 

[rubydist]

if I lived in AZ, I would put in a 180* thermostat.

 

[Irish Pride]

www.shophoenixproject.com

 

[SHOtimer]

if I lived in AZ, I would put in a 180* thermostat.

I second that.

Doug

 

[K-Dawg]

Another good article lost from SHOTimes...

I use stock Ford/Motorcraft thermostats. IMO, there's nothing to gain by going with anything else.

 

[Sarge1400]

The thing many people don't understand about thermostats is that they really have no control over the temp at which your engine operates. Having a 180 degree thermostat doesn't mean your engine will run cooler than one with a 192 degree thermostat, it only means that it will open up and allow coolant to flow 12 degrees sooner. Ultimately, the coolant temp will attain the same temp as it would with a 'hotter' thermostat.
This is not not true when dealing with ultra-efficient cooling systems, but with the barely-adequate systems most of us have, the engine will operate at the same temp regardless of thermostat rating.

 

[rubydist]

Sarge, that is misleading at best. The thermostat will open itself partially to try to maintain a temperature just above the opening temperature of the thermostat. That means that a properly functioning cooling system will run at about 185* with a 180* thermostat or at about 200* with a 195* thermostat.

Now in stop and go traffic with the a/c on, it might creep up from there. If you start at 185*, you have an extra 15* of cushion before you have an overheating event v. starting at 200*. Keep in mind that with the a/c on, the electric fan will be running which means air will be flowing through the radiator even at a red light.

Since the op is in AZ, where the a/c is likely used 350 days per year, having that extra cushion is a good idea, hence the suggestion for the lower opening temp.

Now if you are at a red light without the a/c on, the electric fan will not kick on until around 200*, so you would see a wider swing in the operating temp with the 180* thermostat. However, that is not the case with the a/c on.

As I just described, the thermostat is the device that does control the coolant operating temperature, and a 180* will operate at a lower temperature than a 195* the majority of the time.

 

[Sarge1400]

Sarge, that is misleading at best. The thermostat will open itself partially to try to maintain a temperature just above the opening temperature of the thermostat. That means that a properly functioning cooling system will run at about 185* with a 180* thermostat or at about 200* with a 195* thermostat.

Now in stop and go traffic with the a/c on, it might creep up from there. If you start at 185*, you have an extra 15* of cushion before you have an overheating event v. starting at 200*. Keep in mind that with the a/c on, the electric fan will be running which means air will be flowing through the radiator even at a red light.

Since the op is in AZ, where the a/c is likely used 350 days per year, having that extra cushion is a good idea, hence the suggestion for the lower opening temp.

Now if you are at a red light without the a/c on, the electric fan will not kick on until around 200*, so you would see a wider swing in the operating temp with the 180* thermostat. However, that is not the case with the a/c on.

As I just described, the thermostat is the device that does control the coolant operating temperature, and a 180* will operate at a lower temperature than a 195* the majority of the time.

Alrighty then; you learn something everyday. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[SHOtimer]

Another good article lost from SHOTimes...

I use stock Ford/Motorcraft thermostats. IMO, there's nothing to gain by going with anything else.

I did too, and currently have one in there. But, they were discontinued last time I checked.

Doug

 

[SHORANGERBIRD]

I did too, and currently have one in there. But, they were discontinued last time I checked.

Doug

-still true, but there are MORE than enough still out there to be had. shouldnt be a problem for a good Ford parts person....

 

[Knuckles4696]

so i got my new thermostat looks to be the same as the one i had in there. difference is in the design it looks different has an added piece, is this normal?

new:


old: