best thermostat range for 86 mustang 5.0

[mustangnut]

Only driven in summer, what is the best heat range, 160- 180- 195 Thanks

[wraithracing]

EFI cars generally prefer to see the temperature range as originally set up by OEM. Therefore a 195 thermostat would be the factory recommendation. Depending your location, I might run a 180 thermostat if you are in a hot climate to help a bit in the summer months, but with the EFI, I wouldn't go as low as the 160. Good Luck!

[Haystack]

With a 160 you will see cruddy gas mileage. Even a 180 if driving on the freeway.

[mustangnut]

Thanks everyone, i will go with the 195

[dynodon64]

You can't go lower than 180, due to the programming in the computer. Anything colder puts the fuel tables in choke mode. I know, because I use to custom tune them.

[Mgino757]

Another thing you need to remember is the thermostat only acts as a temperature floor. If you have overheating problems, a colder thermostat will not do much.

[emerygt350]

I put a 192 in mine and with a stock radiator, a ford performance water pump, and 14 degrees advance on the timing, my car is rock steady just on the edge of too cold even on super hot days climbing hills (I wouldn't doubt my thermostat actually opens full at 190). I am not sure about living in a place with 100 degree heat though. My engine also cools off incredibly quickly when I park, no clue why. I had a slightly colder thermostat at the beginning of the summer (just normal new bad thermostats, not deliberate) and my car would never leave the 'cold mode'. Idle would never drop all the way down to 550 etc. That was a motorcraft 192. I 'upgraded' to a duracraft 192 and that is what I have now and is working well.