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I just bought an 84 GSL SE, and noticed the temp barely comes off cold. I went on to get a new thermostat for the car on Rockauto and they have a 180 and a 195 degree version. Which should I get? Why are they 2 diff available?
Yes go with Mazda OEM part. Any Mazda dealer can get it for you in a few days.
The part is too inexpensive to not go OEM. OEM will also have a small bleed hole that allows cooling system to properly bleed without any hassle.
I just bought an 84 GSL SE, and noticed the temp barely comes off cold. I went on to get a new thermostat for the car on Rockauto and they have a 180 and a 195 degree version. Which should I get? Why are they 2 diff available?
the aftermarket just measures the size (if you're lucky) and then offers up stuff in that same size. the Rotaries have a bypass port that the thermostat needs to plug, and the aftermarket parts do not always do this.
also the aftermarket stuff has big quality issues, especially stant. i have spent a lot of time boiling thermostats on my stove!
the Mazda thermostat, which is made by NTC, is 82c
Whether you get OEM or aftermarket, the thermostat has to have the part that blocks the bypass when it is open. Otherwise a significant portion of the water leaving the water pump will bypass the radiator and not get cooled. If you run without a thermostat, you have to thread and plug the bypass. Here are pictures of thermostats w/ and w/o the bypass block. Nothing to block the bypass
