Ditching the 180*
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, PA
The t-stat opens sooner letting coolant into the system earlier. Thus, letting the system run cooler sooner. If nothing is wrong with your coolant system it will also help prevent overheating.
Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 1
From:
There are 3 intrarelated factors with the CEL:
1. Ambient temp/time of year
2. Actual thermostat opening temperature.
3. Accuracy of temp sensor
After reading all the hype last year I installed a 180. Is was ok until cool evenings came in the fall then I would get a CEL. Pulled the stat and checked it in pan of hot water with digital thermometer. It opened at 178. So, I deduced the CEL was a combination of the tstat and the temp sensor being off by a few degrees.
I recently bought another 180 and checked it in a pan of water with the same thermometer and it opened at 183.
I believe the people who don't get a CEL were lucky to have a slightly higher than 180 opening and additionally a temp sensor that is a degree or two in their favor.
1. Ambient temp/time of year
2. Actual thermostat opening temperature.
3. Accuracy of temp sensor
After reading all the hype last year I installed a 180. Is was ok until cool evenings came in the fall then I would get a CEL. Pulled the stat and checked it in pan of hot water with digital thermometer. It opened at 178. So, I deduced the CEL was a combination of the tstat and the temp sensor being off by a few degrees.
I recently bought another 180 and checked it in a pan of water with the same thermometer and it opened at 183.
I believe the people who don't get a CEL were lucky to have a slightly higher than 180 opening and additionally a temp sensor that is a degree or two in their favor.
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 0
From: Allentown, PA
There are 3 intrarelated factors with the CEL:
1. Ambient temp/time of year
2. Actual thermostat opening temperature.
3. Accuracy of temp sensor
After reading all the hype last year I installed a 180. Is was ok until cool evenings came in the fall then I would get a CEL. Pulled the stat and checked it in pan of hot water with digital thermometer. It opened at 178. So, I deduced the CEL was a combination of the tstat and the temp sensor being off by a few degrees.
I recently bought another 180 and checked it in a pan of water with the same thermometer and it opened at 183.
I believe the people who don't get a CEL were lucky to have a slightly higher than 180 opening and additionally a temp sensor that is a degree or two in their favor.
1. Ambient temp/time of year
2. Actual thermostat opening temperature.
3. Accuracy of temp sensor
After reading all the hype last year I installed a 180. Is was ok until cool evenings came in the fall then I would get a CEL. Pulled the stat and checked it in pan of hot water with digital thermometer. It opened at 178. So, I deduced the CEL was a combination of the tstat and the temp sensor being off by a few degrees.
I recently bought another 180 and checked it in a pan of water with the same thermometer and it opened at 183.
I believe the people who don't get a CEL were lucky to have a slightly higher than 180 opening and additionally a temp sensor that is a degree or two in their favor.
Site Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,374
Likes: 28
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Constant open loop will lower your MPGs. Are you sure the CEL just isn't burned out? Does it light up momentarily when you start the truck? (They are supposed to.)
Professional
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Salina, KS
I have a 180 in mine, had it for a full season now (hot and cold in Kansas) and havent had any CEL related issues. I changed mine after swapping heads after a bent exhaust valve last year. It hasnt caused any MPG gains/losses, just a little piece of mind maybe. Might all be in my head.
I have a dual electric fan setup on mine, on a switch, so I can run it with no fans in the winter all the time and still get it to run close to 200, so far, no issues at all.
I have a dual electric fan setup on mine, on a switch, so I can run it with no fans in the winter all the time and still get it to run close to 200, so far, no issues at all.
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Fairfax VA
I installed the 180 T stat two weeks ago, and i drive about 400 miles a week, the truck runs better with this T stat and there is no difference in mpg, so i love it so far, no worries of over heating just drive the truck and last week i was in a big traffic mess so i had to drive 2 miles per hour for about 15 miles, and the truck stays at 180.
Why do you have no over heating worries? A thermostat on regulates minimum temp, not maximum. A 180 degree t-stat is not going to make any difference if you are in an over heating condition. When it is fully open, it will allow the same amount of coolant to ciruclate through the system as a 195 degree t-stat.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
From: The netherlands
By no worries for overheating i mean: before i installed the T-stat my truck always was 220 F so i constantly looked at the gauge, now i installed the 180 T stat and for me i feel more secure.
And youre question why the truck runs better?
For my opinion the motor runs more smooth, but maybe this is something in my head ..
And youre question why the truck runs better?
For my opinion the motor runs more smooth, but maybe this is something in my head ..
Mine used to run right around 205 with the 195 stat pretty much all the time. It would peak over 210 easily in Summer in Phoenix especially in city traffic or in 4 lo off road. I feared towing or hauling any kind of load. I might mention I flushed my system regularly, and had my cap tested to make sure it held 16 lbs.
With the 180 installed, a clean radiator and a good radiator cap it would barely get into that 210 mark under the same conditions, and only when sitting parked with the air on.
BTW, a few degrees cooler coolant is not only good for the motor, but better for your automatic transmission.
I absolutely cannot say that this mod alone made my truck run any better, nor did my mpgs improve. But they didn't go down either. It hasn't caused a carbon buildup either.
With the 180 installed, a clean radiator and a good radiator cap it would barely get into that 210 mark under the same conditions, and only when sitting parked with the air on.
BTW, a few degrees cooler coolant is not only good for the motor, but better for your automatic transmission.
I absolutely cannot say that this mod alone made my truck run any better, nor did my mpgs improve. But they didn't go down either. It hasn't caused a carbon buildup either.
Last edited by dsertdog56; Apr 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM.
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,662
Likes: 7
From: Central Oklahoma
Mine used to run right around 205 with the 195 stat pretty much all the time. It would peak over 210 easily in Summer in Phoenix especially in city traffic or in 4 lo off road. I feared towing or hauling any kind of load. I might mention I flushed my system regularly, and had my cap tested to make sure it held 16 lbs.
With the 180 installed, a clean radiator and a good radiator cap it would barely get into that 210 mark under the same conditions, and only when sitting parked with the air on.
BTW, a few degrees cooler coolant is not only good for the motor, but better for your automatic transmission.
I absolutely cannot say that this mod alone made my truck run any better, nor did my mpgs improve. But they didn't go down either. It hasn't caused a carbon buildup either.
With the 180 installed, a clean radiator and a good radiator cap it would barely get into that 210 mark under the same conditions, and only when sitting parked with the air on.
BTW, a few degrees cooler coolant is not only good for the motor, but better for your automatic transmission.
I absolutely cannot say that this mod alone made my truck run any better, nor did my mpgs improve. But they didn't go down either. It hasn't caused a carbon buildup either.