Stock thermostat is 203 degrees. Go with a cooler one if you are running a programmer and/or headers!!!

I am not looking for better emissions, I am looking for POWER!!!!

 

Just so long as you're aware that you're increasing that power not by removing drivetrain loss from the crank to the rear wheels, but by artificially making the engine burn more gas. Taken to the extreme, this can produce extra deposits in the cylinder walls from all of the unburned (too rich) fuel, extra wear on the cooling pump (whis is powered by the engine, so there is only power gain if the extra fuel adds more power than what is used by the pump) and reduced starkplug life expectancy. As someone already said in this forum, don't understimate the time it takes to check and regap 16 sparkplugs.

But it's your truck and your money. Happy motoring

 

I agree with you completely, but if you have mods which are causing you to run lean which is BAD, then by adding a 180 thermo you can increase your A/F enough to have it running where it should. All I am doing by having the 180 thermo is bringing the engine back to where it should be.

 

So your saying that you should try removing drivetrain loss to increase your rwhp and not to bother modifying your engine? The amount of work required to remove 10 to 20 horsepower of drivetrain loss wouldnot be very economical, it would sure be a lot more expensive than a$400.00 programer. As far as the water pump having to work harder to cool the engine, this is not true at all, the water pump has to work equally as hard weather your truck is running hot or cold as the water pump is turning all the time anyway,as a matter of fact your water pump is turning easierwhen the thermostat is open because it has somewhere to pump the coolant to. I do agree with your sparkplug statement but more for the reason of higher allowed rev limits and hotter combustion chamber temps than due to over fueling. They do allow the engine more fuel but not more than it canactually burn.

 

Also, temp on a stock t-stat on an 06, 5.7 is 195F.

 

Ok so what is the final verdict?

I like this mod and it makes sense to me.

P.S. What thermostat are you using Exchevy?

 

I'm using a 180F. I changed it when I replaced my cam, thats the easiest time to do it.

 

Rodger that.

I would love to put a cam in but I don't have the special tools (ie harmonic balancer tool etc)
So I would have to have it done by a mechanic. Luckily we have a Hemi Performance Shop near here.
I rekon they would recommend the thermostat or at least drop it in for me. LoL

Thanks Exchevy

 

You can get all of the tools necessary from any of the major auto parts store for free with their tool loan program.

 

Ahh!

So like Auto Zone or Advance?

We have those (only 1 auto zone tho)

Thanks Helopilot

You guys are very helpful. I really like this community/fourms