180 or 195 deg. thermostats..

[Billy V]

Does anyone have a preference between these tempetatures?

Is there a difference in the trucks power with one Vs. the other?

Any pros or cons?

[triggerman]

I tryed a 180 robershaw and one stock this past sommer and I now run two stock GM 195's. Diesels just seem to give the best performance/economy at the higher temp. If you have a heat problem, go after it with cooling up grades and a intercooler.

[Dieselboy]

The thermostats are so easy change that you can run 195s for a while, and if you don't like what you're getting out of them then you can change it no problem. They're easy experiments to run.

Personally, I like my 180s, but I'm going to give 195s a try.

[Barry Nave]

I like one of each :D

[Spindrift]

I just removed my AC Delco 180's and found that the black rubber band that encased both of the two bronze stat casings had separated and they had lodged themselves in the spring mechanism. Tough to get up to temperature that way. I replaced them both with 195 Stant Superstats that I found at Pep Boys. They looked sturdier than the OEM part and I'm running right at 195* now. Mileage has improved and with five kids and two dogs in the rear, no one complains about being too cold anymore.

[cruzer]

Robert Shaw 180*s in the summer & 195*s in the winter.

[triggerman]

spindrift
Take care not to use standard style thermostats. The OEM cylinder type have a much higher flow rate than the standard bullet pointed ones.

[Spindrift]

triggerman...

I must admit, flow rate was never an issue for me in specing the stat. Shame on me. Is there a source for this info or is it best to go directly to the manufacturer?

[cruzer]

Spindrift, You have a 98, so you have high flow cooling from the factory. To take advantage of this you shouild be running high flow stats. They don't even look remotely the same. Alot of folks on TDP are using Robert Shaw stats, but they have
become difficult to find recently,because they were bought out by Cooper. If you do a search on this subject you can find who has them. Kennedy used to handle them, he still may. I found mine at Murray Auto Parts in northern OH. I know in a past post someone posted Cooper's phone # and contact. I don't know what GM does. FYI