Too hot of a thermostat?

pyroman · Feb 7, 2010

I bought what I think was a 190* thermostat for my 67. My car has a mild 302 roller motor and I went with a hotter than stock thermostat because I had heard the engine will actually run better at higher temperatures. Stock is 160* or 180*? Anyway, what thermostat should I be running? Seems to be the one I have is keeping the engine up past the halfway mark on temperature gauge consistently and it's winter.

2+2GT · Feb 7, 2010

I asked a Ford engineer this very question, and these engines were designed for optimum performance with the 190°.

rbohm · Feb 7, 2010

the stock thermostat is actually 192 degrees, even in 1967.

pyroman · Feb 7, 2010

Hmm, I was thinking I had a hotter than stock thermostat. Maybe it was 195? Well either way it sounds like 190 is the way to go.

Tanus · Feb 7, 2010

IMO
efi motor- 190
carb motor- 160 or 180 depending on where you live

Wart · Feb 8, 2010

2+2GT said:
I asked a Ford engineer this very question, and these engines were designed for optimum performance with the 190°.

And the cooling system works better when hotter too.

2+2GT · Feb 8, 2010

Tanus said:
IMO
efi motor- 190
carb motor- 160 or 180 depending on where you live

Why would that make a difference?, Besides, my question was asked of a Ford engineer who actually helped design the original Mustang, and he insisted the engine was designed for 190. Fuel efficiency, power, corrosion resistance are all better at 190. And yeah, the radiator works better, and the heater works better at 190.

4tun8 · Feb 8, 2010

This would remain the case if the car was kept 100% original in regard to cooling. That means no chinese materials in the radiator, etc etc.

Tanus · Feb 8, 2010

2+2GT said:
Why would that make a difference?, Besides, my question was asked of a Ford engineer who actually helped design the original Mustang, and he insisted the engine was designed for 190. Fuel efficiency, power, corrosion resistance are all better at 190. And yeah, the radiator works better, and the heater works better at 190.

thats why I said IMO = in my opinion. thats what Id do, thread starter can decide for himself

blown65 · Feb 8, 2010

Tanus said:
thats why I said IMO = in my opinion. thats what Id do, thread starter can decide for himself

X2, always a pissing contest when this topic comes up. LOL

However, I'd love to see one make more power at 190 vs 160.

10secgoal · Feb 9, 2010

Power wise I haven't compared directly, but wonder myself. Oil is thinner hotter. cooler should be better, but comes with it's own problems. thicker oil and cooler manifold. I guess it would be better as long as the fuel isn't sticking to the manifold, which I seriously doubt at 160 deg. Not any more than normal for a carb anyways. I go for 180-190. You want the oil hot enough to get rid of the water in the oil.Oil needs to be about 215.

2+2GT · Feb 9, 2010

4tun8 said:
This would remain the case if the car was kept 100% original in regard to cooling. That means no chinese materials in the radiator, etc etc.

I was not aware that Chinese brass has a different heat coefficient than American brass.

10secgoal · Feb 9, 2010

That's because you've never welded Chinese material. Nothing chinese is the same. You can tell instantly if it **** ty metal. Dunno how drastically it would change the coefficient though.

ForceFed70 · Feb 9, 2010

160* is too cold IMO. You are going to see increased engine wear this low. Definately use a thinner oil if you are going to use a 160* T-stat.

Personally, I think 180*-190* is where you want to be. Most newer vehicles are designed to run with the temp in the 210* area.

rbohm · Feb 10, 2010

10secgoal said:
Power wise I haven't compared directly, but wonder myself. Oil is thinner hotter. cooler should be better, but comes with it's own problems. thicker oil and cooler manifold. I guess it would be better as long as the fuel isn't sticking to the manifold, which I seriously doubt at 160 deg. Not any more than normal for a carb anyways. I go for 180-190. You want the oil hot enough to get rid of the water in the oil.Oil needs to be about 215.

you are right about the oil, but the best performance with gasoline comes when you have ice cold fuel hitting a hot intake floor. that gives you maximum vaporization, and thus best mixture burn in the combustion chambers, which means best overall efficiency.

Too hot of a thermostat?

pyroman

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