Mid winter greetings.
Havn't been on the Forum in a while. Spend a lot if time on the Saturn Forum. My poor Saturn is always needing help as opposed to my PA.
But my question should be simple. What temperature thermostat is recommended for the 99 PA? Not Ultra, if that makes a difference.
My auto parts place shows both a 180 and a 195 degree stat available. Just want to be sure to use the correct one.
Thanks. Ed

you want the 195, 180 is for aftermarket tuned engines

Thanks for the fast reply.

Both will work, but the 180 wont turn the fans on as easy.

I just replaced my thermostat with a Prestone Ultra Life:http://www.cadna.com/Prestone_Stats.asp
I checked the factory specs, I think it was mentioned in Owner'* Manual so X2 at 195 Degrees.
MY PK Ave had a 180 before and it was not warming up as easily as it is now. Good Heat for winter definitely helps when the car is bone cold!

I personaly, use both. The 195 in the winter and the 180 during the summer time.

Hi Guys!
I read my coolant temperature using my DIC buttons. The car warmed up slow and only reached a high temp of around 168 to 173 degrees (flat run, light acceleration). Yesterday I replaced my thermostat with a new 195 degree stat and today it worked much better. It now reaches 189 to 192 degrees flat run. Idling at traffic light goes to 195-196 degrees.
I boiled the old stat and noted the temp reactions. It didn't open until around 195 degrees but it didn't close until back down around the 160-164 degree mark using a digital quality cooking thermometer.
To replace the stat I parked the car with the drivers side higher than the passengers side. I slowly removed the radiator cap and was ready with a catch pan for the antifreeze under the car. Waited for it to stop dripping (about 2 cups of fluid) then loosened the t-stat housing. A little more draining from the overflow tank. Now about 3/4 to one quart. Dripping stopped. Lifted off housing, removed old stat, cleaned area (already clean since gasket material is a simple rubber "O" ring) and installed new stat with new "O" ring. Old ring was stretched a bit. Can't be reused anyway. Bolted housing on and filled overflow tank with 1 quart of Dex-cool 50/50. JOB DONE. No air locks. Overflow tank on the money.

You might want to crack the bleeder screw open to make sure there is no air in the system. It is located on top of the thermostat housing.

I'd definitely crack the bleeder screw and make sure no air is in the system, air in the system allows the Dex Cool to become more acidic, which is bad for seals, coolant elbows, old nylon 6,6, LIM Gaskets, etc
At least that is what I have read.

I drilled a little 5/32" hole in my thermostat, right behind the gasket area, so when I filled my radiator I could squeeze the hose to "burp" it a bit, the hole lets the air trough, without you having to get it up to temp and bleed it, but I still bled mine afterwards just in case.

If air has an effect on Dexcool, then just about every vehicle in the world that has Dexcool would be affected because of the vented cap on the over flow tank.