I have a 1989 Chevy 1500, lately when the a/c is on and there is not a good constant flow of air it seems to be running pretty hot. I am changing the thermostat but I am unsure as to which one I should get. I have heard the 190 degree thermostats with the fail safes are best. any post are appreciated thank you.
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What degree thermostat should i run in my truck?
- Thread starter jsecrest
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I always get the OE temperature thermostat, and I like the stant superstats (I think that's how they spell it).
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Your in texas run a stand 180 deg. and make sure your fan is working good.
make sure your radiatior and ac condensor fins are not plugged with bugs. also make sure the radiator is not plugged internally or the thermostat change will make no difference. The electric fan should be running when the a/c is on, unless you have a mechanical clutch fan so check those as well.
195 is your OE temperature. Stick with that, if you go higher or lower you risk several problems that may be serious in the long-run.
I personally like Motorad FailSafe thermostats. Guaranteed never to fail closed. Whatever you get, make sure it has a jiggle-pin.
Also, you should use something like Permatex Water Pump and Thermostat sealant on the housing as a gasket, even if there isn't one originally. You'll seriously cut down on the chance of it leaking and having to reinstall it.
I personally like Motorad FailSafe thermostats. Guaranteed never to fail closed. Whatever you get, make sure it has a jiggle-pin.
Also, you should use something like Permatex Water Pump and Thermostat sealant on the housing as a gasket, even if there isn't one originally. You'll seriously cut down on the chance of it leaking and having to reinstall it.
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He'll have no issues with a 180 it's a 89 throttle body injection primitive computers to tadays standards,i've done it many times,now running a say 160 would be not good.
Maybe, but what do you really have to gain going lower in an otherwise stock engine?
jsecrest
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mine does not have an electric fan but i am looking into one and recommendations? and thanks for the post but i think i am gonna be going to get the 195 motorad fail safe thermostat.
Originally Posted By: jsecrest
mine does not have an electric fan but i am looking into one and recommendations? and thanks for the post but i think i am gonna be going to get the 195 motorad fail safe thermostat.
Does your fan have a thermostatic clutch? If so and it is not turning at idle when the engine is hot then thats the cause!!
mine does not have an electric fan but i am looking into one and recommendations? and thanks for the post but i think i am gonna be going to get the 195 motorad fail safe thermostat.
Does your fan have a thermostatic clutch? If so and it is not turning at idle when the engine is hot then thats the cause!!
stick with oe temp: 195-198. but why are you replacing the thermostat? is the engine running hot or do you think this will fix your A/C problem? (it wont)
jsecrest
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there's nothing wrong with the a/c its blowing cold, im just trying to keep the temp down i do not wont to damage anything. so i will prob replace the water pump and thermostat and if i find one for the right price i will add a an electric fan to help things out. and as for the thermostatic clutch i have no idea, how would i found out?
195 clean the radiator fins really good and make sure the flow in the radiator is ok...
I would get it good & hot and shoot the thermostat housing with an IR temp gun-bet you find your temperature gauge is inaccurate (both my '93 GMC & '94 Suburban ones read wrong).
If you are getting higher temperatures in hotter weather, then I'd suspect that your 21 year old radiator has enough buildup on the inside to reduce cooling capacity (assuming everything else is in good shape.
Have a look inside the cap; if you can see any buildup inside, then I'd replace the radiator.
Have a look inside the cap; if you can see any buildup inside, then I'd replace the radiator.
Originally Posted By: jsecrest
there's nothing wrong with the a/c its blowing cold, im just trying to keep the temp down i do not wont to damage anything. so i will prob replace the water pump and thermostat and if i find one for the right price i will add a an electric fan to help things out. and as for the thermostatic clutch i have no idea, how would i found out?
The first test for the fan clutch is to try to spin the fan* with the everything stone cold. It should move smoothly but with a little resistance and it should stop as soon as you stop pushing on it, not free-wheel by itself. Second, once the truck gets good and hot like you are describing try to spin the fan again*. This time it should be much stiffer than before. If the fan spins freely or doesn't stiffen when everything else is blazing hot then the fan clutch is bad and needs to be replaced.
Besides that, I don't see how a cooler t-stat is going to help here. Keep the stock temp one. If it's bad and not opening then replace it but if it's good then it's doing all it can and the problem is elsewhere in the cooling system. Either the stat isn't opening, the radiator is blocked, the pump vanes are gone or the fan clutch isn't engaging. Check the fan clutch first.
*Hopefully this doesn't need to be said but just in case: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING NEAR THE FAN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING! Shut the truck down before messing with the fan or its clutch. Those blades will gladly remove any body parts that get close.
there's nothing wrong with the a/c its blowing cold, im just trying to keep the temp down i do not wont to damage anything. so i will prob replace the water pump and thermostat and if i find one for the right price i will add a an electric fan to help things out. and as for the thermostatic clutch i have no idea, how would i found out?
The first test for the fan clutch is to try to spin the fan* with the everything stone cold. It should move smoothly but with a little resistance and it should stop as soon as you stop pushing on it, not free-wheel by itself. Second, once the truck gets good and hot like you are describing try to spin the fan again*. This time it should be much stiffer than before. If the fan spins freely or doesn't stiffen when everything else is blazing hot then the fan clutch is bad and needs to be replaced.
Besides that, I don't see how a cooler t-stat is going to help here. Keep the stock temp one. If it's bad and not opening then replace it but if it's good then it's doing all it can and the problem is elsewhere in the cooling system. Either the stat isn't opening, the radiator is blocked, the pump vanes are gone or the fan clutch isn't engaging. Check the fan clutch first.
*Hopefully this doesn't need to be said but just in case: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING NEAR THE FAN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING! Shut the truck down before messing with the fan or its clutch. Those blades will gladly remove any body parts that get close.
I have a 93 C1500, similar truck to op's.
I have a 195 degree Stant Superstat in it now. It runs at a much more consistent temp then with the stock type cheapie that was in there. They are also made with stainless steel so it won't ever corrode. You can get them at Advance Auto Parts or NAPA for about $12-15.
I agree with some other posts, make sure your fan clutch is working and the rad isn't dirty (inside or out).
I have a 195 degree Stant Superstat in it now. It runs at a much more consistent temp then with the stock type cheapie that was in there. They are also made with stainless steel so it won't ever corrode. You can get them at Advance Auto Parts or NAPA for about $12-15.
I agree with some other posts, make sure your fan clutch is working and the rad isn't dirty (inside or out).
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