ABDFI

If temperature is easily maintained there is benefit to going to a 195.  Engine wear will be greatly reduced for one thing.  Running 175 is too cold.  It sounds hard to believe, but there have been numerous studies done, and increasing operating temperature that 20 degrees probably reduces engine wear by about 25%.

Then there's the benefit of a hotter chamber, namely, better fuel atomization.  This should allow a slightly leaner mixture while making more power. 

Need to update...expand the acronym list Steve.

My guess..”Already Been Done Forget It”?

I do know it aint broke, it has been like this for over 20,000 miles.
 I was wondering if anyone had empirical statistics on increased operating temperatures.
 Ford did increase the small block t/stats ratings from 1st to later generations. Why?
 I need a small project now that my new knees are getting broken in

 

Ford designed the SBF engine to run at 195 degrees normal operating temperature. They must have had reason to do so otherwise they'd have put in a 180 degree or a 165 degree or whatever. I've always run the 195 in my Ford engines, as Ford recommended. JMHO.
Of course, we could always replay the MS vs Mr. Tim discussion about thermostats and radiators and engine cooling,  eh MS?

Why did Ford change?  For exactly the reasons I stated.  It increased engine life and probably most importantly for then at the time it decreased emissions through a more efficient burn.

We discussed this on another thread.  DC had dyno tests from running a hotter t-stat that showed an increase in power. 

If you want to see the effect on wear here's the link I posted on that thread:

http://www.carnut.com/ramblin/cool3.html

For a close to stock standard 289, what is the best temperature thermostat?
I wonder now if mine is too low...
It barely gets to a 1/4 way on the gauge these days (since the flush and radiator service)

TKO is correct. Wear will be reduced. Small block ford engines do show extra wear on # 1, 4, 5 and 8 cylinders since they run cooler, not having an adjoining cylinder on both sides.

If you can run 195 without problems, the car will be better off.

My answer previously was based on all the recent overheating questions that have been showing up. Ain’t broke... I have been getting more conservative with messing with stuff if it is working well already.  Not the best answer for those who are still energetic.

I'm not sure what you can use as a baseline for 'improvement, or not' type of measurement; maybe gas mileage,
plug readings, I don't know but whatever you use, you can temporily block off the radiator to get the temp
to 195 and then use your measurements to see the difference.   Less messy than changing the thermostat, and
maybe changing back again.

Since fitting the 191deg thermostat, the engine definitely warms up a lot quicker. I am noticing the temperature gauge sitting halfway now, even late into the evening when it is not very hot. I hope this still is ok, as I still remember getting some heartburn with watching the temp gauge read 3/4.

Tubo wrote:

If it ain't broke, It doesn't have enough Features
195 T-stat

Tubo

TUBO! Where you been hiding? What up brother?

Hmm... don't remember ever hearing that Steve. What temp T-stat are you using?