Should I get a 180 thermostat?
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Hot climate(80*+ all the time), go for it. Med-cold climate(anything below 80* regularly) don't do it, no reason for it.
Truck is tuned to run at its best in the factory temp range. If you tow regularly and live in hot climate, then it would be worth it.
Short duration trips would be a bad mix for a colder t-stat because you would never burn off internal engine moisture.
There's no real benefit other than when towing or in stop-go traffic in hot climates. Changine the t-stat by itself wouldnt have much of an impact anyways. You would want to go to a hotter plug gap if doing so which I have YET to see anyone do on here... Your engine runs at a spcific temp which it's tuned for. Dropping the runing temp makes the plugs act as if you had slightly smaller gap(reduces performance) so in theory ou could open up the gaps slightly and gain some performance without worrying about spark plug blow-out or running lean. Talking about a small gap increase like .005-.01"
*I wanted to add...blow-out is a condition of losing spark at the plug at high rpms from too large of a gap. For those that have not heard that term before, I has nothing to do with the plug breaking...lol
Truck is tuned to run at its best in the factory temp range. If you tow regularly and live in hot climate, then it would be worth it.
Short duration trips would be a bad mix for a colder t-stat because you would never burn off internal engine moisture.
There's no real benefit other than when towing or in stop-go traffic in hot climates. Changine the t-stat by itself wouldnt have much of an impact anyways. You would want to go to a hotter plug gap if doing so which I have YET to see anyone do on here... Your engine runs at a spcific temp which it's tuned for. Dropping the runing temp makes the plugs act as if you had slightly smaller gap(reduces performance) so in theory ou could open up the gaps slightly and gain some performance without worrying about spark plug blow-out or running lean. Talking about a small gap increase like .005-.01"
*I wanted to add...blow-out is a condition of losing spark at the plug at high rpms from too large of a gap. For those that have not heard that term before, I has nothing to do with the plug breaking...lol
Last edited by dirtydog; Mar 29, 2012 at 07:24 AM.
Hot climate(80*+ all the time), go for it. Med-cold climate(anything below 80* regularly) don't do it, no reason for it.
Truck is tuned to run at its best in the factory temp range. If you tow regularly and live in hot climate, then it would be worth it.
Short duration trips would be a bad mix for a colder t-stat because you would never burn off internal engine moisture.
There's no real benefit other than when towing or in stop-go traffic in hot climates. Changine the t-stat by itself wouldnt have much of an impact anyways. You would want to go to a hotter plug gap if doing so which I have YET to see anyone do on here... Your engine runs at a spcific temp which it's tuned for. Dropping the runing temp makes the plugs act as if you had slightly smaller gap(reduces performance) so in theory ou could open up the gaps slightly and gain some performance without worrying about spark plug blow-out or running lean. Talking about a small gap increase like .005-.01"
*I wanted to add...blow-out is a condition of losing spark at the plug at high rpms from too large of a gap. For those that have not heard that term before, I has nothing to do with the plug breaking...lol
Truck is tuned to run at its best in the factory temp range. If you tow regularly and live in hot climate, then it would be worth it.
Short duration trips would be a bad mix for a colder t-stat because you would never burn off internal engine moisture.
There's no real benefit other than when towing or in stop-go traffic in hot climates. Changine the t-stat by itself wouldnt have much of an impact anyways. You would want to go to a hotter plug gap if doing so which I have YET to see anyone do on here... Your engine runs at a spcific temp which it's tuned for. Dropping the runing temp makes the plugs act as if you had slightly smaller gap(reduces performance) so in theory ou could open up the gaps slightly and gain some performance without worrying about spark plug blow-out or running lean. Talking about a small gap increase like .005-.01"
*I wanted to add...blow-out is a condition of losing spark at the plug at high rpms from too large of a gap. For those that have not heard that term before, I has nothing to do with the plug breaking...lol
Thanks you gave me the answer/explanation I was looking for, I have decided not to go with it because I hardly tow and we have bad winters here
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
Yeah, I'd agree with 'dog. Hot climates and/or heavy towing it's a good mod. If you tend to do shorter trips it's a poor mod since you'll be increasing your chances of oil sludge and condensation problems.
Another instance it's beneficial is if you have some mods that tend to lean out the A/F ratio, as a cooler t-stat will richen the mix a tad...
Another instance it's beneficial is if you have some mods that tend to lean out the A/F ratio, as a cooler t-stat will richen the mix a tad...
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Hmmm. I have a jet waiting for install. I live in PA so I see just about all temps. My commute to work is a good 45 to an hour every day with traffic. I do some short trips as well. I figured with my vararam intake the slightly richer mix from the stat would help. So should I throw it in or not? I'm also running a SC tuner with a free flowing exhaust ( magnaflow y pipe and a custom cat back).
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
An efan takes the drag of the factory clutch fan off the engine. Less drag on the engine = more power and better fuel mileage. They also move more air than the stock fan so engine will be cooler. I bought a flex a lite 183 which is a direct bolt on for a Hemi. Got it for 250 shipped from amazon.
