180* T-Stat ? HELP
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A cooler 180 degree thermostat and cooler intake air will reduce the tendency to ping at part-throttle. The 180 not only causes the truck to run cooler (reducing the intake air charge temp), but it also causes the truck to run cooler (this fools the computer, which believes that the truck is not completely warmed up so it runs a richer air\fuel mix).
Some have even used a 170 degree thermostat. Each 5 degrees of thermostat drop is supposed to be about like adding 1 Octane number to that of whatever gasoline you are using. The 170 thermostat may set a fault code for "Engine operating temperature not achieved in specified time" and illuminate the "Check Engine" light. Some have experienced this, others have not set the fault code.
According to Dakota Power Secrets in the January 1999 issue of Mopar Muscle, the Magnum thermostat is rated at 195 degrees F. The engine controller is designed to make maximum power at 182 deg F. Especially with a high performance engine computer, the engine generates high combustion chamber temperatures under heavy throttle conditions and this heat is transferred to the coolant above the chamber. The hot coolant forms air pockets that create combustion chamber hot spots; engine ping is the result. Dropping the thermostat to 185 or 180 degrees will stop most of the coolant pocketing, and the engine fuel economy and power will improve.
Some have even used a 170 degree thermostat. Each 5 degrees of thermostat drop is supposed to be about like adding 1 Octane number to that of whatever gasoline you are using. The 170 thermostat may set a fault code for "Engine operating temperature not achieved in specified time" and illuminate the "Check Engine" light. Some have experienced this, others have not set the fault code.
According to Dakota Power Secrets in the January 1999 issue of Mopar Muscle, the Magnum thermostat is rated at 195 degrees F. The engine controller is designed to make maximum power at 182 deg F. Especially with a high performance engine computer, the engine generates high combustion chamber temperatures under heavy throttle conditions and this heat is transferred to the coolant above the chamber. The hot coolant forms air pockets that create combustion chamber hot spots; engine ping is the result. Dropping the thermostat to 185 or 180 degrees will stop most of the coolant pocketing, and the engine fuel economy and power will improve.
Engine was running perfect.
I changed because I read so many posts that the 180* was better for the 5.9, that the 180* is what the engine was originally designed to run and that the 195* actually makes them run hotter than they should and the 180* would help fuel milage.
I changed because I read so many posts that the 180* was better for the 5.9, that the 180* is what the engine was originally designed to run and that the 195* actually makes them run hotter than they should and the 180* would help fuel milage.
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4085spd:
Those quates are a little contradictive.
Seems to me if it is richining the fuel mix, it may make more power, but gas milage is going down.
Anyway, I don't know where my gauge coincides with the actual temp, but it definately is running Much cooler with the 180* Stat.
With the 195* Stat it ran perfect and gas milage was a couple mpg better.
Use to idle at 600-650 rpm, now it idles at about 400 rpm and a slight miss at idle once in awhile.
This is the temp difference, notice where the arrow is, that was where it ran with the 195* Stat.
Those quates are a little contradictive.
Dropping the thermostat to 185 or 180 degrees will stop most of the coolant pocketing, and the engine fueleconomy and power will improve.
The 180 not only causes the truck to run cooler (reducing the intake air charge temp), but it also causes the truck to run cooler (this fools the computer, which believes that the truck is not completely warmed up so it runs a richer air\fuel mix).
Anyway, I don't know where my gauge coincides with the actual temp, but it definately is running Much cooler with the 180* Stat.
With the 195* Stat it ran perfect and gas milage was a couple mpg better.
Use to idle at 600-650 rpm, now it idles at about 400 rpm and a slight miss at idle once in awhile.
This is the temp difference, notice where the arrow is, that was where it ran with the 195* Stat.
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At this point, I fugure change back to the 195* Stat, and go from there
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From: Cape Carteret NC
The 180 allows you to advance timing safer, with less opportunity of pre-detonation.. without a tune, the pcm is going to think it needs more catalyst added to air to ignite.. with a tune, it will curve fuel so you won't be so rich, and still be cooler so you can advance spark safer..
The 180 is going to cost you fuel wise unless you accompany it with a tune..
The 180 is going to cost you fuel wise unless you accompany it with a tune..
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The 180 allows you to advance timing safer, with less opportunity of pre-detonation.. without a tune, the pcm is going to think it needs more catalyst added to air to ignite.. with a tune, it will curve fuel so you won't be so rich, and still be cooler so you can advance spark safer..
The 180 is going to cost you fuel wise unless you accompany it with a tune..
The 180 is going to cost you fuel wise unless you accompany it with a tune..
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4085spd:
Those quates are a little contradictive.
Seems to me if it is richining the fuel mix, it may make more power, but gas milage is going down.
Anyway, I don't know where my gauge coincides with the actual temp, but it definately is running Much cooler with the 180* Stat.
With the 195* Stat it ran perfect and gas milage was a couple mpg better.
Use to idle at 600-650 rpm, now it idles at about 400 rpm and a slight miss at idle once in awhile.
This is the temp difference, notice where the arrow is, that was where it ran with the 195* Stat.
Those quates are a little contradictive.
Seems to me if it is richining the fuel mix, it may make more power, but gas milage is going down.
Anyway, I don't know where my gauge coincides with the actual temp, but it definately is running Much cooler with the 180* Stat.
With the 195* Stat it ran perfect and gas milage was a couple mpg better.
Use to idle at 600-650 rpm, now it idles at about 400 rpm and a slight miss at idle once in awhile.
This is the temp difference, notice where the arrow is, that was where it ran with the 195* Stat.
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More power means better effeciency which increases fuel mileage. If you want MPG why you get a 6000lbs truck with a v8? lmao everytime someone talks about MPG with a v8 truck. If thats where your temp was reading then you have an issue with your cooling system it should not be past the 200 mark even on a 100deg day in stop in go traffic with the ac on. Ilde at 400rpm's wont happen lol.
Not looking for a gas miser, I'm looking for the reason I lost mpg and my idle went down.
I read most ram owners with the 5.9 and a 195* stat that their temp runs on the 200-210 mark on the gauge.
And yes my engine is idling at 400rpm according to the gauge