Can you buy a lower temp thermostat for the single thermostat 6.5 like a 180F just wondering. Will this affect anything much? Arent most T-stats 190 or 195F?

Yes You can get lower temps.
www.kennedydiesel.com (http://www.kennedydiesel.com/) , which is a supporting vendor here, has 180 degree stats for sale on his web site for your 94 6.5.
You might want to consider looking into doing the cooling system upgrade also.

Lots of opions on this one. My truck is the dual thermo setup (97) I run 2 180's.

More than a few say the engine performs better at ~ 195 - 205. Depends on where you live and if you tow etc. 180deg won't cure a cooling problem but it starts you off cooler and normal driving it will run cooler.

I feel better that all the stuff under the hood is a little cooler.

Yeah see I live in florida and the heaviest thing I haul as of now is a boat trailer and it doesnt weigh that much. I have a intercooler idea but I need to keep the radiator a few degrees cooler mainly at low speeds for efficency. A 180 would do ok I think.

I run dual 195 degree RS from Kennedy. In the cooler month's my truck barely got up to 180. Now that the weather is warming up my truck is getting up closer to 195 and it feels more powerful at this temp.

OEM t-stats are about 180, I believe, for your year. My '95 runs in the neighborhood of 180 on the gauge. This is with a clean cooling system and OEM thermostats. My opinion is that aftermarket stats are too generic. I say this because I've boiled several different ones side by side and watched them perform. The OEM ones open and close in such a manner that the temps. are forced to remain more constant.

Many here may run aftermarket stats and have no trouble. I like my gauge to come up to operating temp. and not move. I've never had that with an aftermarket thermostat, whether Robertshaw or other brands.

Just my two cents.

SnowDrift

OEM t-stats are about 180, I believe, for your year. My '95 runs in the neighborhood of 180 on the gauge. This is with a clean cooling system and OEM thermostats. My opinion is that aftermarket stats are too generic. I say this because I've boiled several different ones side by side and watched them perform. The OEM ones open and close in such a manner that the temps. are forced to remain more constant.

Many here may run aftermarket stats and have no trouble. I like my gauge to come up to operating temp. and not move. I've never had that with an aftermarket thermostat, whether Robertshaw or other brands.

Just my two cents.

SnowDrift

I agree 100%

I still have the single stat and went with a 170, because I was having problems of overheating at low speeds and stop and go traffic. Since the change it has not overheated and it runs at a steady 175-180 but under load and going up hills it will climb to 195 which is the highest it has seen. It is still plenty hot for winter driving and the heater works great. It may be that with the dual heater it allows a little more capacity and cooling ability. Although I have heard this is low for a diesel I haven't noticed any loss of power from running at lower temps and for some reason during the summer whenever I idle if the temp rises above 195 the A/C shuts off. I couldn't stand it which is the main reason why I went with a 170, since then it has only risen that high at idle once (and shut down A/C). For some reason the fan just doesn't seem to pull enough air through at idle? Any guesses? As soon as I start moving the temp goes back down and A/C works.

Has anyone tried running the Dmax fan conversion on the 6.5?

Yes there are 6.5'ers out there running that combo. Kennedy diesel mentions that on his web site that it didn't work as well as other combos. But it might be a better cost to cooling ratio for those not always pulling something like me.

I still have the single stat and went with a 170, because I was having problems of overheating at low speeds and stop and go traffic. Since the change it has not overheated and it runs at a steady 175-180 but under load and going up hills it will climb to 195 which is the highest it has seen. It is still plenty hot for winter driving and the heater works great. It may be that with the dual heater it allows a little more capacity and cooling ability. Although I have heard this is low for a diesel I haven't noticed any loss of power from running at lower temps and for some reason during the summer whenever I idle if the temp rises above 195 the A/C shuts off. I couldn't stand it which is the main reason why I went with a 170, since then it has only risen that high at idle once (and shut down A/C). For some reason the fan just doesn't seem to pull enough air through at idle? Any guesses? As soon as I start moving the temp goes back down and A/C works.

that is wierd. i bascially have the same truck and have never experienced that. :confused:

OEM stats for the 95 were 195*. I have run all kinds of stats and went to 205* dual stats and this is where the truck runs best. Lower stats will not help any over heating problem. Hotter stats will not only give you more power but better fuel economy. One winter I went from 180* to the OEM 195* and gained about 1/2 mile to the gallon.

Greg

that is wierd. i bascially have the same truck and have never experienced that. :confused:

It is wierd, because I was hooking up a trailer at uhaul and it took about 15 minutes and when I got back the wife and kids were dying of heat. I took it in to get A/C services and they said all was well. I then removed and power flushed radiator and the outside of radiator and condensor, and added water wetter, slight improvement in overheating at idle but best once installed 170 stat.

I wish I knew the real reason for poor air flow at idle. But have only had problem once since the change.

Mine did that till i installed the high idle. Try it you will love it.

Justin

Mine did that till i installed the high idle. Try it you will love it.

Justin

Explain more I'm not sure what you mean?:confused:

Has anyone tried running the Dmax fan conversion on the 6.5?

I've been running the Dmax fan on my 95 Yukon since doing the cooling conversion. Works just fine, wouldn't say it is quieter when it engages but it sounds a bit different. I like the lower weight.

Hey 95, What exactly did you install from the D-Max, just the fan, and does it fit on the 97 - newer fan clutch??