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replacement thermostat

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Old Jun 22, 2010 | 09:14 PM
  #1  
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From: Sulphur LA
replacement thermostat

Hi everyone. I'm pulling my radiator out of my truck to have it serviced at a friend's radiator shop. It has a seam leak in the top and could use a thorough cleaning anyway. I will flush the block and heater core as well. I would like to replace the thermostat while I'm doing all this. My question is what temperature stat to get? 78 f150 with 460 and auto. I've asked and no one seems to agree. Thanks in advance.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2010 | 11:55 PM
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I think OE is 192.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 01:51 AM
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I always go with the 180 for the older stuff with no emissions and 192 for the newer stuff with emissions. Napa makes a heavy duty thermostat that I really like. Check it out.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 02:00 AM
  #4  
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TexasTrash
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From: Tucson, AZ
I have a fail safe 192 in my 360. My engine seems to run better the hotter it gets. It has no emissions stuff on it.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 07:25 AM
  #5  
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Thanks dirtracer and TEXASTRASH. TEXASTRASH, I like that. I get email notification response to the forum questions and I immediately laughed when I opened it and saw the name.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 07:41 AM
  #6  
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fmc400
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192-195 degrees F. The engine is designed to run at this temperature, which is why it's the OE thermostat temperature.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 08:44 AM
  #7  
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704 dentside man
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No electronics, I run 180*...has electronics, I run stock replacement. Either way, go with a Robertshaw tstat. A little pricier than most, but I have yet to have one fail in any of my rigs...and even if they do, they're designed to fail open.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 03:26 PM
  #8  
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From: Big Sky Country
195 degrees will make your engine happiest.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 04:52 PM
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180 is too cold for our engines, need at least 192. Buy a premium thermostat, they start at about 10 dollars. Cold thermostats cause an engine to warm up too slowly. An engine wears the most when its cold especially the front cylinders. Ask you local engine builder.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 07:05 PM
  #10  
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Had a 180 in mine because I ran at highway speeds a lot at high rpm. Switched back to a 195.
 
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Old Jun 23, 2010 | 10:08 PM
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From: Canyon, TX
I run a 180 in my F250 and it hits that mark easily for cool weather. But when it's in the 90's outside it creeps up to 215 in city driving. I don't like that much, but wonder what it would do with a 190 in it. My Bronco runs 190 consistently, even in a slow parade drive, but don't know what thermostat is in it....love that 302 engine and it runs smooth.
 
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