Thermostat 180 vs 195

[CapnDean]

1) GMC installs a 195 degree thermostat at the factory.

2) My temp gauge reads close to 200 - 205 degrees under normal operating conditions.

Understanding that:

A) Dash mounted gauges have a "margin of error" in the 10 to 15 degree range.

B) I am not having an overheating problem.

C) The hotter an engine runs the more efficient it is (obviously up and until you begin to detonate or overheat).

Would anyone recommend a 180 thermostat over the factory 195?

What kind of performance changes would I likely note by keeping my engine cooler?

 

[76BBSub]

The only advantage to running the engine cooler is in the intake tract, where cooler inlet air results in a denser air/fuel charge, therefore more power from combustion.  I think that only changing your thermostat wouldn't provide a noticeable change.  Hypertech recommends buying their Power Programmer along with their Powerstat, which is a 160 stat, to take advantage of the changes to the engine temp.  Considering that your late model truck has been engineered around 195 degrees I wouldn't bother to change it.

Jeff

[Charles]

I think you can run in to trouble just changing the thermostat (to a lower temp.) and not reprograming the computer.