Lower/drilled thermostat to lower trans temps?

[SaukRapids]

Is this a thing? I understand why people use them otherwise, but I've never heard of this reason. Also, a drill hole is free so it's no real cost over the 180deg thermostat.

There is info that a 3800 can be "tuned" for a 180 or lower t-stat, but I'm unsure how that has anything to do with the transmission.

Personally, I have much more faith in a low cost trans cooler (flex-a-lite, others) than drilling to achieve cooler trans temps. I'm interested in saving my trans by any means, but I also like heat in the MN winter. Kinda lost on this one.

Thanks!

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

In theory if the coolant temp is lower the transmission temp could be lower as well. Though I never had a problem with transmission temps going on long road trips in the summer. If I saw it crack 170-175 on the open road that'd be few and far between. At a stand still it might rise some but always came right back down.

Being tuned for a lower thermostat just means turning on the fan temps much lower than the factory 212/228º temps. I'd say go ahead and drill 1 really small hole in the thermostat if you want to, it might run 5-10 degrees cooler while moving but nothing you'd noticed and you won't lose heat over it. Just run a real transmission cooler if you are seeing really high transmission temps.

[SaukRapids]

Alright man, thanks for the clarification.