Thermostat Warning!

[BuffaloGuy]

From past posts some of you may remember that I was having overheating troubles at higher speeds with a load. I pondered all sorts of causes and solutions including adding 180F stats.

The parts house assured me they were to factory specs. They were not. I finally went to the dealer and got a stat from them and compared the 2.

IF YOUR PARTS HOUSE SAYS THE STATS ARE TO GM SPECS DON'T BELIEVE HIM! The only stats that I could find that are right came from JOHN KENNEDY. BUY HIS! The dealer only has 210F - too hot for my liking.

I got the 195F and they solved my problems (almost). I think it runs better with the 195 than the 180 I tried earlier. I still need to get my radiator rodded again to really get it right. Next summer.

Just a heads up to save you some time and $.
Ken smile.gif

[ucdavis]

I bought a $4.50 spare stat @ NAPA. Then, doing some recreational reading of the stat comparison in the old TDP reprints I saw a significant differnce in the appearance of tested stats & the one I bought. Pulled it out, measured the flow area & compared to the TDP photos, & it was way-the-hell different!
Took it back & they pulled out an $8.99 model that also showed for a 6.5TD which does match the TDP tested designs. WHEW! Glad I didn't have opportunity to install the stupid thing.
Your warning is spot-on, but I would extend it to belts, hoses, OPS, in fact just about anything. Compare to the old, & learn the characteristics of critical components cuz parts houses are not specialists.