Hey guys If this has already been a thread before (i know it has) i appologize for the inconvenience.

i put i 180 thermostat in my truck and its still running about 200 guage sits just under 210. I've hear that 160's run about 170 im sure that its the same as the 180, but is it normal to be that much different? Its sitting at the same temp as my 195* stat did.

 

the gauge on your cluster is a dummy gauge.. can you hook up a scanner and see what the temp really is? you only went from a 196 to a 180 so your not gonna see a huge difference.

 

The small hole on the Tstat is to help bleed air from the system. As said before the gauge on the instrument panel is not very accurate. I commonly see them off 15 degrees. A scan tool will show a more accurate reading. I have a 160 in my truck and it runs at 185 all day long.

 

Given the right conditions, even a 160* stat will heat up to about 195+ with the factory clutch fan, it will just take a little longer. The best way to control the temp and keep it consistently where you want is with efans set to your desired settings.

Oh yea, and as mentioned, the factory gauge is more of an "indication" of where your temp is at than an actual reading. Seems that some are more accurate than others also. Mine is pretty close to what my scan tool reads for the most part, once it gets up to temp...there's kind of a "grey area" between 160-170ish lol

 

if the trans lines run through the radiator before the cooler, then will a 160* stat vs the stock one in fact keep your trans fluid slightly cooler?

 

I have a 180* too man, and it sits at 199. its normal. with a 160* you need to change parts of your tune to run the cooler temps. I would stick to the 180. it opens a little sooner than the stocker. 180 means it starts to open at 180.

 

Sounds about right to me.. They all run hotter then they state. Like said the stock cluster gauge is not 100% acc.. Only way to make it run cold is to take it out all together.. But a hotter engine actually runs better in most cases..

 

Listen to Bud, you need to adjust your fans.

 

What's the reason behind changing it? Was to help it run cooler r was the temperature running a little higher then normal?
My 160 runs about 180 depending on weather & if a/c is on! I've seen it go up to 210 on a hot day stuck in traicff

 

My 160 runs about 175-180. In bumper to bumper traffic never goes above 185 even in 100+ weather.....but the fans are tuned for the thermostat.