Thread: 160 or 180 degree thermostat??

If you don't need a 180, STICK TO STOCK!

89% of people running 180* Tstats don't need them. Stock temp is set to run at 210* for a reason.

Originally Posted by Explicit_Spade

If you don't need a 180, STICK TO STOCK!

89% of people running 180* Tstats don't need them. Stock temp is set to run at 210* for a reason.

I thought it was 91%? Did I miss the memo??

Sent from my iPhail

Originally Posted by matt5112

But it is.

But it isn't.

Mileage actually didn't change one bit with the EGR deleted, running a 180* T-Stat in the silver car.

I've ran a stock T-Stat, a 180*, a drilled 180*, and a non-drilled 160*...if anything I hated the stock temp T-Stat because these cars don't like getting hot anyways...so whats the point in helping out that aspect and creating more potential for heat soak, melted wires, dry rotting engine parts, warped plenums...etc.

Please, continue with your 195* theory, where every car should run a higher temp thermostat because "It needs a stock temp".

Bullsh1t.

While I will admit to having NO first hand experience with changing the TStat to a cooler one, I DO understand the reason to do it.

This is MY understanding of it.

It is all in an attempt to reduce/eliminate KR. Why is KR created? Because of High INTERNAL CYLINDER TEMPS. SO by running a cooler Tstat you can keep the water in the water jacket cooler and thus keep the cylinder walls cooler. Helping to remove some of the heat at THAT point. IMO a 180* or cooler is not needed UNTIL you TUNE AND PULLEY DROP. Going down in pulley sizes creates more heat, so you need to do something to counter that heat to reduce KR. BUT just like all the other supporting mods NOT EVERYONE may need it. One car may run just fine on a 3.4" setup with a 195* TStat, where as another car may knock a little more. So in the car that knocks a little more just reduce the heat in the cylinders by cooling the water jacket a little more and you can help combat the KR.

As far as it hurting your motor or gas mileage, I again can not speak from first hand account but I have heard it will hurt your mileage. BUT I have never heard of it doing ANY damage to your motor. I have ran with NO TStat in my truck for YEARS and had no problems with the motor.
The only reason I can even believe that it would hurt your gas mileage is because of the old rule that I learned long ago.
COOL = MORE POWER
HOT = BETTER MPGs

Anyway that is my take on it and my 2 cents.