I'm buying a new radiator for my 2003 hemi ram since the plastic side is leaking pretty good now. And I'm replacing the hoses and thermostat also. The parts store said it's a 203 degree thermostat. Is that right? It just seems kinda hot, Thanks

 

Yeh they run hot. I cannot confirm 100% but believe it is a 195 thermostat with an opening range 195-203, they may have either quoted the high side or it is year dependant and there are actually 2 different ones available. Alot of guys run the 180 Jet or Mr.Gasket. Suggest you read up on some of the older posts that discuss thermostats in detail or just wait out as someone else will clarify this for sure in the AM.

 

When I did mine it was either a 203 or 213 degree t stat. Its right though I got it from mopar and apparently its the one for the job. Had it for a year and it runs like it should. Being in michigan I would just run the stock temp so you have good heat for the winter.

 

i live also in michigan and man it can get cold but i love my 180 t stat my truck warms up in like mile if i just jump in it a go unless running it cooler is not that good in the winter but idk

 

yea the stock on my 04 was 203. I replaced it with a 203. Truck is happy

 

Here in England where compared to you guys, the weather is a balmy -5DegC in winter, my 180 caused temp error codes the heater didn't get past a very weak luke warm and my mpg's went down by 1-2 mpg's.
I got shot right quick of the 180......and reinstalled the stock Tstat.
All that on my 03 Hemi.
Just my experience of a 180.
Al

 

Yeh AL with my 180 at -20 it takes about 5 KM to get a reading on the guage but by the time I get to work 12 KM I got 150-160 and some heat (thats with the block heater plugged). A piece of cardboard helps at -45 on the HWY. I only got the "took to long to warm up code 2 or 3 times in the biggining" but then the truck was OK after a few months. I lived in the UK for three years (02-05) and your minus 5 is right cold to the Bone.

 

Just replaced mine, was a 203, everything is good. You think that's hot? My LS1 runs a 210...in an all aluminum block.

 

I might re-retry my 180 at some point this summer and see how she goes.
-45....WOW. I remember when I was in Newfoundland in the early 80's and it was -28 or something. I had real long hair then and I'd just had a shower and thought my hair was dry. I went ouside to a bar ad my friends all started to laugh. My hair was like a piece of board. You could tap it in fact lol.
The -5c I was talking about here in the UK, was a stroll in the park for us this winter.
I think we got down to -16 to 18c at some points.
It's been a cold and snowy winter this year. the coldest and snowiest for over 30 years in fact.
Anyway, enough of the weather. Think I'll try the 180 soon and keep a check on the mpg's.
Al.

 

it gets all the way down into the upper 50's here in the winter. talk about cold!! i have to put on a long sleeve shirt for that stuff.