Warmer is better for sure.
I use the 87.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 6:41 PM
Subject: Re: 80c or 87c thermostat?

> Scott, my impression is that commerce will make whatever people will buy.
> Some folks get to thinking that if their engine overheats, putting in a
> cooler thermostat will help.  It won't.  The thermostat is there to raise
> the temperature to the stated level.  If it is working correctly, it opens
> once that temperature is reached.  The engine can still overheat, but not
> because the thermostat is the stock 87 C thermostat.  Overheating is
> higher than 87 C.  The 80 C thermostat will open at 80 C, but it won't
> keep the engine from overheating if there is a problem otherwise, either.
> If the engine is overheating, there is a problem other than too hot a
> thermostat, and a cooler one will not help.  And the reason stock
> thermostats are 87 C is because that's the temperature at which the engine
> runs best (might actually run better a little hotter, but 87 works, while
> 80 is too cool).
>
> Some experts (I'm not one) may have a different explanation, or may even
> disagree.
>
> ---- Scott Chapman <scott_list@MISCHKO.COM> wrote:
>> I see that there's lower temp thermostats avaialble for the Westy.
>> What's the use of a lower temp thermostat?  Stock is 87 and these are 80
>>  IIRC.
>
> --
> David McNeely