Just installed the 180 for curiousities sake. Drove it around a bit brought it up to temp, then got out and shot the thermostat housing. Gauge in the truck reads 160. Infrared thermometer reads 158-163 on the thermostat housing. So I'm consistantly running 20f cooler then I should be with the 180 and the 192.
Both thermostats have the same profile sitting in the intake. It appears there is maybe 1/32 or slightly more of a gap between the housing and thermostat. My next train of thought is put a thin rubber gasket under the thermostat and try and space it up to close that gap?
Please if I'm missing something here, don't hesitate to point it out to me.
This is the recess I'm talking about. I just don't see how coolant could work it's way around it unless it was floating up.
So to reiterate.
With a 192F thermostat I'm only reaching an operating temp of 170.
With a 180F thermostat I'm only reaching an operating temp of 160.
stumped at the moment...