2nd Gen Ram Tech 1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

180 degree T/Stat question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 11-26-2007 | 10:59 AM
HankL's Avatar
HankL
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 8
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

The thermostat sets the minimum temperature.

The horsepower of the engine at that moment,
plus the capacity of the coolant pump,
the heat rejection abililty of the radiator,
and the heat conduction
passages inside the engine
set the maximum temperature.

Cooler running engines are not more efficient.

The temperature of the air coming into the cylinder partially determines the maximum horsepower the engine can produce. If the intake air is well insulated from the other hot parts of the engine...like modern designs do...the coolant temperature does not affect the intake air very much or at all.


 
  #12  
Old 11-26-2007 | 11:38 AM
Gary-L's Avatar
Gary-L
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,648
Likes: 6
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

ORIGINAL: sddunn2

the rad cools the engine coolant .when the thermostat opens it allows the hot coolant out of the engine and the cooler water in .Ifthe thermostat was taken right out you would have a continuous flow of cool water flowing around in your engine . thus 180 degree thermostat would run a cooler engine than a 200 degree thermostat
Um, no. The t-stat opens when the coolant has reached a specified temp. It has NOTHING to do with making the engine "run cooler". The radiator controls the cooling. PERIOD!!! [:@][:@][:@]
 
  #13  
Old 11-26-2007 | 01:02 PM
IndyRamMan's Avatar
IndyRamMan
Champion
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

Obviously the radiator is the physical unit that allows the antifreeze to disipate the heat, but the thermostat is the piece that sets the temp the engine runs at. Take your thermo out, and you will run at the minimum temp your radiator allows (depending on the weather, I would immagine youd see 140 degrees) Again, the thermostat SETS the temp. Aside from debating lowering the temp for performance, the thermostat IS what controlls the temp. I have to agree with hankL once again, though I dont know why anyone would disagree with him lol. I do have to add to your statement. hank, that atleast in my oppinion, the lower degree thermostat was never intended for lower intake temps, but rather cooler combustion chamber temps, allowing you to advance timing therefore making more power. Since you can not change timing on the magnum motor by fiddeling with the dizzy, it really isnt worth it unless you have it programmed into the pcm. Im sure some of you are saying why do you have a 180 tstat with out a pcm then, I have mine lowered because my truck was heating up in the summer time, and I didnt want to risk any trans failure. Just so were clear
 
  #14  
Old 11-26-2007 | 01:11 PM
lucas3397's Avatar
lucas3397
Professional
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

Um, no. The t-stat opens when the coolant has reached a specified temp. It has NOTHING to do with making the engine "run cooler". The radiator controls the cooling. PERIOD!!! [:@][:@][:@]
Prior to changing to a 180 thermo my temperature gauge read like 210 or in that neighborhood. After the change it now reads like 180 or in that neighborhood. Explain why the engine temerature gauge reads that its colder when a new thermostat isnt possible of doing that.
 
  #15  
Old 11-26-2007 | 01:19 PM
Gary-L's Avatar
Gary-L
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,648
Likes: 6
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

ORIGINAL: lucas3397

Um, no. The t-stat opens when the coolant has reached a specified temp. It has NOTHING to do with making the engine "run cooler". The radiator controls the cooling. PERIOD!!! [:@][:@][:@]
Prior to changing to a 180 thermo my temperature gauge read like 210 or in that neighborhood. After the change it now reads like 180 or in that neighborhood. Explain why the engine temerature gauge reads that its colder when a new thermostat isnt possible of doing that.
Trapped air in the system that was now let out? Sorry, but it makes zero sense that a lower temp t-stat is going to make the engine run cooler -- and again, call any radiator repair shop and they'll tell you the same thing.

With that said, I'm done with this topic.
 
  #16  
Old 11-26-2007 | 01:24 PM
IndyRamMan's Avatar
IndyRamMan
Champion
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

ORIGINAL: VWandDodge

ORIGINAL: lucas3397

Um, no. The t-stat opens when the coolant has reached a specified temp. It has NOTHING to do with making the engine "run cooler". The radiator controls the cooling. PERIOD!!! [:@][:@][:@]
Prior to changing to a 180 thermo my temperature gauge read like 210 or in that neighborhood. After the change it now reads like 180 or in that neighborhood. Explain why the engine temerature gauge reads that its colder when a new thermostat isnt possible of doing that.
Trapped air in the system that was now let out? Sorry, but it makes zero sense that a lower temp t-stat is going to make the engine run cooler -- and again, call any radiator repair shop and they'll tell you the same thing.

With that said, I'm done with this topic.
if thermostats dont control the temp that the coolant is at, howcome in YOUR link that says overheating you replaced the thermostat to combat overheating?
 
  #17  
Old 11-26-2007 | 04:47 PM
tazman6789's Avatar
tazman6789
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Mentor, Ohio
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

you drive a VW we cant expect an expert..... the point of the 180 is so your block dosnt get as hot... instead of waiting till it gets to 195 degrees to start coolant movement it starts movement at 180... meaning the ENGINE IS RUNNING COOLERRRRRRRRRR.
 
  #18  
Old 11-26-2007 | 08:05 PM
IndyRamMan's Avatar
IndyRamMan
Champion
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

ORIGINAL: tazman6789

you drive a VW we cant expect an expert.....
+1
 
  #19  
Old 11-26-2007 | 09:41 PM
aim4squirrels's Avatar
aim4squirrels
Legend
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,843
Likes: 13
From: DFW, Texas
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

Combustion won't be any cooler if that's what we'redebatinghere.

The fluid moving into the engine from the radiator is cooled only as much as the radiator can dissipate heat from the fluid running thru it.

The fluid coming into the radiator is the only thing that is fixed at 180* or 195*.If the same radiator cools 180*coolantto a colder temp than195* coolant, then the incoming engine coolant will be cooler, which would pull heat from the block at a cooler temp, whichin turn cools the block to a lower temp. It's like running cold water over you hand, the colder the water, the colder your hand, though your body is still producing a set amount of heat. Cooling blankets are used on patients in hospitals running extremely high fevers to reduce core temp and prevent brain damage.

I do believe the engineblock getscooler with a 180* t-stat, but I don't know that it's exactly 15* cooler because the system would have to havenoother external factors acting upon it to net a perfect 15* swing. That being said, In the grand scheme of things I don't know that 15* is a huge factor to cooling the block or even the heads which are prone to cracking, but a little insurance never hurts. I've never thought of running a 180* t-stat to lower air intake or fuel temps, but I highly doubt that would make any difference in either case. A couple of Thermotec header blankets or a couple of cans of VHT would do better than a 180* t-stat in that instance.

http://www.boostplanet.com/header_blanket.htm
http://www.cacustomcoatings.com/flam...-coatings.html

BTW, I just got my first P1281 code this Thanksgiving weekendwhen the weather dipped down to the low 40's. I forgot that the heater also engages the A/C and my electric fans were on full blast cooling the radiator. The tempwas just1/3 of the way between the 130 and 210 markings on the temp gauge (favoring thecold side) at 70 MPH on the highway and the code tripped. I thought I was going to have to pull the 180* t-stat until I remembered the fans were still kicking on. Pulled the A/C switch activating wire from the flex-a-lite controller off and it hasn't come back yet. I'll cardboard up 1/3 of the rad if it happens at an even colder temp.

Temps on the gauge are a little coolernow than 2 weeks ago when itwas 85*. The temp gauge has run cooler in the summer since switching the t-stat and and significantly coolerwith the e-fans.

 
  #20  
Old 11-27-2007 | 05:51 AM
IndyRamMan's Avatar
IndyRamMan
Champion
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: 180 degree T/Stat question

ORIGINAL: aim4squirrels

Combustion won't be any cooler if that's what we'redebatinghere.

The fluid moving into the engine from the radiator is cooled only as much as the radiator can dissipate heat from the fluid running thru it.

The fluid coming into the radiator is the only thing that is fixed at 180* or 195*.If the same radiator cools 180*coolantto a colder temp than195* coolant, then the incoming engine coolant will be cooler, which would pull heat from the block at a cooler temp, whichin turn cools the block to a lower temp. It's like running cold water over you hand, the colder the water, the colder your hand, though your body is still producing a set amount of heat. Cooling blankets are used on patients in hospitals running extremely high fevers to reduce core temp and prevent brain damage.

I do believe the engineblock getscooler with a 180* t-stat, but I don't know that it's exactly 15* cooler because the system would have to havenoother external factors acting upon it to net a perfect 15* swing. That being said, In the grand scheme of things I don't know that 15* is a huge factor to cooling the block or even the heads which are prone to cracking, but a little insurance never hurts. I've never thought of running a 180* t-stat to lower air intake or fuel temps, but I highly doubt that would make any difference in either case. A couple of Thermotec header blankets or a couple of cans of VHT would do better than a 180* t-stat in that instance.

http://www.boostplanet.com/header_blanket.htm
http://www.cacustomcoatings.com/flam...-coatings.html

BTW, I just got my first P1281 code this Thanksgiving weekendwhen the weather dipped down to the low 40's. I forgot that the heater also engages the A/C and my electric fans were on full blast cooling the radiator. The tempwas just1/3 of the way between the 130 and 210 markings on the temp gauge (favoring thecold side) at 70 MPH on the highway and the code tripped. I thought I was going to have to pull the 180* t-stat until I remembered the fans were still kicking on. Pulled the A/C switch activating wire from the flex-a-lite controller off and it hasn't come back yet. I'll cardboard up 1/3 of the rad if it happens at an even colder temp.

Temps on the gauge are a little coolernow than 2 weeks ago when itwas 85*. The temp gauge has run cooler in the summer since switching the t-stat and and significantly coolerwith the e-fans.

On the contrary, cooling the heads does cool the combustion chamber, as they are a part of the heads. Unless your saying it doesnt cool the combustion charge, which I agree with.

Thats awesome that the flexalite fans work that well.
 


Quick Reply: 180 degree T/Stat question



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:10 AM.