My uncle said that my truck would run 100x better with a 12O degree tstat which I've heard was better(colder air is more dense) he also said to buy a 500 megaohm resister in the alternator sothat the pc advances timing. Whatcha think????

 

What do I think? Stop listening to your uncle's ideas regarding your truck.

First off, good luck finding a 120* automotive thermostat. Second, since the temperature wouldn't come up to the proper operating temperature soon enough the PCM would trip a MIL code that it was taking too long to warm up. Third, once the truck was driving down the road, the thermostat would never close so the coolant would never stay in the radiator long enough to cool down.

A "500 megaohm resister in the alternator"? I don't know, but I'm sure this is snake oil of some sort.

 

120 please dont! billy runs a 160 only for track days. if you ended up some how getting a 120 if would never warm up and run rich constantly.

 

I put a 180 degree tstat on my truck but I did that to help stop it from pinging under a light throttle. It advances the timing just a little and that does help just a bit on performance but it makes it use a little more gas too. Unless you have pinging or preignition it's probably best to leave well enough alone. I have never heard of a 500 mega ohm resistor. If there is such a thing, putting one on your alternator won't do anything for the PCM or the timing.

Jimmy

 

He runs this set up on his jeep and it runs really well. Won't the PCM be "tricked" into thinking it's cold, thus giving more power? Correct me if I'm wrong

 

more power maybe b.c timing is advanced but your dumping in so much more fuel. dont do it. dont do it. it will run stupid cold. 180 or stock therm only. 160 if if race.

 

I think your uncle doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.

 

your truck would not run 100x better on a 120 degree thermostat. if you could even find one it would run like **** cause that is not what the engine is designed and built to operate at. a 180 thermostat will make it run a little cooler but still wont trick the pcm, and i believe the stock therms are 195 correct me if im wrong anybody. 120 degrees your truck would never warm up and reach operating temperature so you would be getting awful mileage along with it. you need 180 or 195. i dont think your uncle knows what he is talking about

 

He races at his local track(super stock) so I'm thinking he is basing this Off his track car

 

well a track car is obviously built to run different than a dodge dakota. if you are running full throttle quarter miles constantly cooler is better but on a stock or mostly stock dakota that gets driven on the street and not romped on it would be a terrible idea. i can see a race car wanting to keep its operating temperature low but a daily driven truck is a completely different story