No, I dropped a few hundredths in calculated mileage with the 180 and
the mods. Not exactly a significant amount. Figure in the fact that my
odometer has read 4.3 percent LOW since 1/5/2001 and my actual gas
mileage probably went up.
The engine is actually designed to run optimally at 183 or so. The 195
is there to make the EPA happy (emissions). Your 318 isn't a "newer
engine" but the computer compensates quite well for the change in
temperature. When I bought my stat at Advance Auto Parts (or was it
Autozone?) the guy tried like mad to talk me out of it, told me all
kinds of things (cab heat won't work right in the winter, mileage will
suck, emissions will get me in trouble) and would only sell it to me
after I told him that it was for off-road use only (and he told me to
tell him that's what it was for). What a pain. I looked at it like
this - this one guy working at the store told me that what a dozen
people on the DML was wrong. The collected knowledge on this list is
tremendous - if the list says "it works" then it's a safe bet it works.
The recommendations on the list have yet to let me down.
I don't have any dyno numbers, but someone out there must. I do know
that the engine feels like it has more punch, especially at operating
temperature. Tim Berry swapped his 180 for a 160 (kids, don't try this
at home) and picked up a fair amount of time on the track.
DC will only "recommend" what's EPA-approved.
Ryan Ingram wrote:
>
> okay so you're saying you gained 1/100 or so mpg by switching to a 180 deg.
> thermostat?... hmmm. I've heard so much about this mod as a performance
> increaser but is that true? I was about to swap mine today just to see if it
> really works (plus it's cheap), and I ended up leaving the parts on the
> counter after "enrique" at Kragen talked me out of it. He didn't look like
> an expert auto mechanic, but he did seem to strongly believe that changing
> it would only result in a *decrease* in power because the newer engine is
> designed to run hotter (may work for older vehicles), and the computer is
> set for that temperature range out of the factory. I'm not sure but I don't
> want to waste my time changing it if it's not going to work. Does anyone
> have any real proof of this working? what does the manufacturer/Mopar
> reccomend? how much HP it it supposed to add?
>
> Ryan Ingram
> '99 Dak Sport CC 318 4x4, *195 Thermostat*
>
> ------Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET]On Behalf Of Andy Levy
> Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 11:51 AM
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> Subject: DML: 180 t-stat mileage numbers
>
> Well, I managed to prove all the naysayers wrong (none of whom are on
> the DML). Everyone not on the DML who I talked to about putting the 180
> t-stat in said it would kill my gas mileage.
>
> Thanksgiving weekend '99 - End of March '00 - 12.79 MPG
> T-stat install (weekend before Thanksgiving '00) through end of March
> '01 - 12.786 MPG
>
> This year I had 100+ pounds MORE sand in the bed, and in January got the
> BFGs which caused my calculated mileage to drop, as my odometer and
> speedometer read 4.316030267125w. The mods I added between the 2 timeframes
> (intake, fan, TB, tonneau) certainly helped though.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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