Thermastat Question

[1965LONEWOLF]

I KNOW IN A GAS MOTOR IF YOU GO TO A 160 OR A 180 DEGREE THERMOSTAT IT HELPS , DOES THAT WORK TOO WITH DIESELS ?

MY RUNS AROUND 195 - 200 ALWAYS , I THOUGHT IF I COULD FIND A 160 IF I WOULD BE DOING THE ENGINE GOOD OR BAD ? :-laf

 

[JHardwick]

Lust replaced mine with a Cummins thermostat. I'd say you could get it running too cold for top performance.

 

[jelag]

A couple of thoughts..... you haven't seen a 160 or 180 thermostat in a gas engine in 20 years..... they need the heat of 195 to keep the engine temp up for complete fuel burn... .



Our trucks have an idle problem already... . the fast idle built into the ECM is to turn the engine faster to cause more heat... ... because at idle... the engine cools off... . and with this... . other issues..... I personally wouldn't do a thing to the cooling system.....

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

i also have a 01 chevy 3500 with a 160 in it , i do alot of towing , my brother has a 03 ford 460 with a 180 in it bvecause he tows alot too , so they still make them and people still use them , just some thoughts for you

 

[nickleinonen]

i'd like to see a 200* one in mine... as long as the cooling system is up to it, keeping the engine hotter is better. .

 

[MCummings]

Diesel's like heat.



I have been doing alot of pondering about this exact question. On the 2nd gen, the cooler 180* t-stat helped make a little more power and better throttle response, but only because it was "tricking" the ECM, and adding more timing and trying to heat the water up.



Side effects were poor A/C performance, and high auto transmission temps.



Your 3rd gen has a lock-up clutch for the cooling fan. If you lower your water temp the fan will rarely be engaged, making oil temps higher, trans temps higher (auto) and poor a/c performance at low speeds.



Your cylinder temps will be lower too, which won't be good either. Even at factory temps we are having a hard time keeping cylinder temps high enough at low speed, and low loads.



When towing you also run into another dilema to the fact that, the t-stat will be full open by the time your fan starts to engage, increasing the risk for overheating.



If anything, I'd like to see a bigger radiator and bigger fan with water temps at 210*.



The higher your cylinder and water temps are the more efficient your motor will burn fuel. In most cases the compression goes up.





When I get my 3rd gen I will leave the cooling system stock and only put a small 8" electric fan to help low speed a/c performance.



My $. 02

Merrick

 

[DPKetchum]

In a GAS motor the only HELP a 160 or 180 thermostat does is on a computer controled EFI motor is to make it THINK its running cooler to make the mixture RICHER. On a HOT day the FINAL HIGH TEMP will be the same if it runs 200 degrees it will run 200 degrees with a 180 or 190 degree etc. Its just takes it LONGER to get here. On cold/cooler days it will run cooler. Eaither way to me its NO HELP. It screws with the mixture/computer parameters etc. A diesel is a like a furnace or fire place. Need a certain amount of heat to burn completely.

 

[rbattelle]

I'll just second what everyone else already said. Like Nick, I'd like to get a 200* thermostat if one was available. More heat = more efficiency.



-Ryan

 

[Mark1si]

Dont the 3rd gen trucks have the torque managment system that wont full fuel till the engine hits a set temp? Im guessin 160 is low. I think I would rather see it run a little warmer to help in carbon burn off and stuff like that.

 

[DPKetchum]

Yes it does.

 

[SafeHarbor]

After having the plastic cap of my '93 Dakota's radiator depart this mortal coil, the radiator guy told me to put a 180 degree thermostat in it. I did, and then it ran at 180 instead of 210. I noticed no performance or mileage issues - it still hauled butt and got 17 mpg.



Whether that translates to Cummins, I don't know.



Lamar