He added an alter ego because nobody with any sense would back up his story.
A cooler running engine will run richer because the PCM is looking for around 192*+ coolant temp so it and it thinks it isn't up to operating temp.
You will gain a little power, but will use more gas to get it.
Engines have been designed to run with a 195* thermostat since the 70's and this has nothing to do with heads cracking. A poor casting and detonation, maybe, but not running @ 195*. It's funny how I have seen so many 2nd gen Rams with 150K+ on the original engine that have always had a 195* thermostat and no cracked heads.

Bottom line is, your mileage tanked from the colder coolant temp causing a richer fuel mixture. I also feel that unless something got bumped loose while working under the hood, the miss/idle is an unrelated problem. I would start by checking all of the vacuum lines to make sure one isn't loose or broken.

 

Man, you summed it up. That's exactly what I was thinking. Other then engine pinging, I don't know why someone would want to run a 180* stat. The 180* stat has become it's own urban legend.

 

Well don't doubt him completely, if I've learned anything while working on trucks (granted in 17) no two trucks are exactly the same, and who knows he might get better mpg with a 180 thermostat but his environental variables can be completely different then ours. He could have a cooling system flaw and the 180 brings it to the peak operating temperature of 192 or something. Or who knows, the little less heat might cause some weird sensors to work differently. All I'm trying to say is there are way too many variables on a automobile for people to slam down on others for conflicting information, who knows, it might work for them.

But creating two accounts is just downright lame

 

So overall, is the general consensus if you are running a mostly stock vehicle with no tunes, there are no benefits to running a 180?

 

this is indeed a good thread on tstats

 

Ya, no offense to anyone because I believe there are some really smart people on here that we should have to pay for their advice, but no one is as smart as the 50+ engineers and testers at dodge that put that 195 in there in the first place. They built the truck the best they could with the budget they had and since a t stat isn't a part that varies in cost based on its temperature range, they would definitely put in the best thermostat temperature stock.

 

I have been running a 180 stat in my 95 for years with no loss of mileage. Helps with pinging ( I can run 89 instead of 93, MP computer) and I think it helps keep the sludge from building in the engine by keeping the oil cooler. Also the manufactures run them hot to help with emissions not mileage. They started running them hotter when they had to start meeting emission requirements. All they want is to make it out of the warranty period. I have seen enough sludge in magnum engines that have had regular maintenance to believe that these puppy's are cooking themselves. Just my opinion.....Have a 180 in my Hemi also with no loss in mileage.

 

Dude, those same guys who designed the plenum pan and gasket? How about 'torque management'?

Okay, seriously... The 195 is emissions required to burn off gases.. that's pretty much the reason.. the computer could easily have been flashed to allow the 180 and not dump fuel, which would have addressed pinging due to blown gasket, but they opted to go another direction instead.. because: emissions standards..

All of the debate here, is solved by saying: without a tune dressing excess fuel, stick with the 195.. if you've got a tune addressing the operating temp/fuel dump, a 180 is superior.. the superiority is ONLY because you can advance spark, and get more power from the same effort..

 

Well my main point was money, dodge likes to save money. I also doubt they'd lose gas mileage to get better emissions but who knows lol
And you're completely right, I forgot about emissions and government regulation so maybe they did put the 195 in for that but they also programmed the computer for that. I totally agree changing that thing and getting a sct tuner is totally worth it once I get the money

The plenum, retune, and torque managements were all ways dodge tried to save money.

 

The 180 with a tune ain't going to help mileage one bit... But, it will be the same as with a 195.. the economy question is simply the pcm dumping more fuel on a cooler engine in effort to keep it running.. cooler engines need more catalyst to positively ignite.. the same thing that allows you to advance spark is the reason the engine dumps fuel.. if you tell the pcm that 180 is good, it will trim fuel just like it would for a 195, and the same tune can tell the engine to advance spark, and if it does, you're taking advantage of the cooler stat.. if it don't, you're going to be wasting fuel running fat... Plus, running rich consistently is hard on cats and plugs.. long term, that 180 will cost you more than fuel.... Unless you tune for it... It's all about the tune..