moparman

I send dodge a message asking if they had a 180 degree
thermostat, as I've been told over the years that lowering the
engine temp on a gas engine will help it run a little richer and
produce a little more power. I figured this would throw off the
pollution sensors and other crap, but I'm not really concerned as
much about global warming as I am getting a little more bang for
my buck. Also, if you add on some of the performance computers,
they recommend that you change the thermostat to a 165 or 180
degrees one.

The one in the Hemi from the factory is a 195 degrees.

Here's there reply:

"If you put a 180 degree thermostat in the truck will run to cool
and screw up all your sensors, plus your fuel economy will drop.
Jeffrey "

Anyone installed a performance computer yet? They are starting to
come on the market.

--
MoParMan----Remove Clothes to Reply...

Scud Coordinates:
Latitude: 32.61208 Degrees North
Longitude: 96.92995 Degrees West
Depth: 17.35 Inches

joe

Don't know about the 5.7, but I put a 180 in my 5.9 Dak and it runs
great. At first I couldn't find a 180 so I tried a 165; CEL came on
within a day. Finally found a 180 at NAPA; been running it for months
with no problems. Fuel economy is the same as with the 195 - lousy.
But that's not why I bought the truck...

Joe
Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
Calypso Green '93 Mustang LX hatch with a few goodies

moparman

Does it run better? or can you even tell?

--
MoParMan----Remove Clothes to Reply...

Scud Coordinates:
Latitude: 32.61208 Degrees North
Longitude: 96.92995 Degrees West
Depth: 17.35 Inches

} thermostat, as I've been told over the years that lowering the
} engine temp on a gas engine will help it run a little richer and
} produce a little more power. I figured this would throw off the
} pollution sensors and other crap, but I'm not really concerned as
} much about global warming as I am getting a little more bang for
} my buck. Also, if you add on some of the performance computers,
} they recommend that you change the thermostat to a 165 or 180
} degrees one.
}
} The one in the Hemi from the factory is a 195 degrees.
}
} Here's there reply:
}
} "If you put a 180 degree thermostat in the truck will run to cool
} and screw up all your sensors, plus your fuel economy will drop.
} Jeffrey "


Lot's of people with 5.2L Dakota's and Ram's are running 180 deg
thermostats. It's hot enough that the computer thinks the engine is
warmed up and everything works fine. I put one in my Dakota to reduce
pinging, it helps some. The 5.2L engines all came with 195 deg
thermostats too. I did notice the heater has a little less guts, but it
doesn't get that cold in California so that's OK.

--

Frank Ball frankb@sonic.net

joe

No noticeable performance difference, but running a bit cooler
certainly doesn't hurt down here in SoFla, especially if I do a few
mods later on.

Joe
Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
Calypso Green '93 Mustang 5.0 LX hatch with a few goodies

*cbhvac*

God...the quality of the net-jockey at DMC must be slipping, since I havent
known of any replies from Chrysler to use such terms as
"screw up".

I think the screw up was sitting on the other end of the PnP line...