Changing the thermostat in your 3rd generation Dodge Dakota can serve as a performance mod as it helps to keep the engine running cooler or you can simply change the thermostat as a preventative measure as your truck ages, but in either case it is a job that you can do at home with only basic tools and experience. DF member Eimer123 put together a great DIY piece that details how to change the thermostat in the last generation Dakota fitted with the 4.7L V8 so whether you are trying to improve the performance or you are simply troubleshooting an overheating condition – this DIY thread can be incredibly helpful in servicing your Dak.
The thermostat of the 4.7L V8 in the 3rd gen Dodge Dakota is notched, which prevents owners from buying a lower priced non-Mopar part but Eimer addresses how to get around that problem. This will allow you to run any thermostat that fits so rather than running the stock 195 degree unit, you can swap to something that keeps your rig running a shade cooler.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
