Thermostat 160 vs 180

[Rusty]

What does everyone recommend for a stock 426 hemi a 160 degree or 180 degree thermostat?

 

[Cranky]

Never much cared to run my engines with a colder T-stat but I've never owned a Hemi either.....

 

[Photon440]

I'd stick with 190. Trying to run it too cool will help it sludge up and help with worse gas mileage and diluted oil.

 

[The Horvaths]

Hotter = more efficient. Up to a point.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I agree with the above "posts"
Numerous reasons for a "warmer" engine...

But, not getting into that...My concern lately reading forums, some persons think "I did good, my so and so runs at 165!"
Engineers designed these engines to run 190 to 205 degrees...

I tell everyone...205 degrees is not hot for a internal combustion engine...

 

[Cranky]

My 71 340 Cuda would ping whenever the temp went slightly above 180 whenever the outside temps were 95 and humid so for me, it would run better on 93 pump gas when the water temps were slightly below 180. Modern oils perform do no perform as well when engine temps are run too cold either.