Ah, the comments surrounding tstats, here are the facts and real world
situations surrounding the subject...
Automobile manufactures use engine temparatures (both block and
cumbustion to control emissions and power). The hotter the combustion
charge,
the better the burn. The colder the charge, the more power (for every 10
degree rise in inlet temperature, one can expect a 1% reduction in
output power).
Both of these situations do reach a point of diminishing returns, to hot
and detonation occurs, too cold and we end up with high levels of
hydrocarbons. If
power levels are considered acceptable, then the manufacture will
concentrate on emissions, remember low levels of emissions, and the
Feds. look favorably
on the company. When changing a tstat, live within the world your engine
lives in. The engine controller (computer), does have a temparature
range which is
considered acceptable, if the truck is driven as a daily driver, we need
to be concerned with the "closed loop" mode of the computer, idle and
steady state
driving. On the Dodge computers, both OBDI & OBDII, normal operating
temperature starts at approx. 180 F. Once this temperature is reached,
the computer
will operate (and not cry foul - CHECK ENGINE) as programmed. Remember,
on a hot day, with a 160 F. tstat. your truck may still reach 180 F. or
higher
and no CHECK ENGINE light. But on very cold days, your computer may
think it hasen't reached operating and will complain. On all trucks (to
my best
knowledge) up to and including 1998, all trucks can benefit and will
operate correctly with a 180 F. tstat installed. The cat will clean-up
any increase in
unburned hydrocarbons and additional power will gained, (remember colder
inlet charge). If you have detonation with the factory tstat,
immediately change to
a 180 tstat. If you are running an aftermarket chip, follow the chip
manufacture's recommendations (some chips have been tuned with a 160 F.
in mind)
If racing is your game, experiment and go with whatever gets you the
lowest E.T.'s .
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boog318@aol.com [SMTP:Boog318@aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 1998 6:58 AM
> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> Subject: DML: 160 vs 180 stat
>
> Been talkin to alot of mechanics and the consensus is that with these
> newer
> engines, dont go below 180. Everyone pretty much said that these
> engines are
> designed to run hotter. Running too cold can cause excessive carbon
> build-up
> especially on the intake valves. Even though the 160 may seem to run
> better,
> its not good for a daily driver. Guess I'm gonna change my stat to a
> 180 just
> to be safe. At least I will get to actually see the difference
> between all
> three stats.
> 92 "experimental" 318 slushy 4x4 caddyspanker :0)
> Boog
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